I. Industry Overview: Ground Solar Mounting Market Enters High-Speed Growth

In 2022, driven by China’s “dual carbon” goals and national energy transition strategy, the photovoltaic (PV) industry experienced explosive growth. As the “skeleton” of PV power stations, the solar panel ground mounting system industry entered a fast track. According to relevant data, the market size of ground solar mounting systems in China exceeded RMB 10 billion in 2022, and is expected to maintain an annual growth rate of 15% over the next few years. From January to August 2022, newly installed PV capacity reached 44.47 GW, with full‑year new installations projected at 85–100 GW. This rapid growth directly drove demand for PV mounting systems.

In terms of market structure, leading players in China include Nextracker, Arctech Solar, Array Technologies, Jiangsu Guoqiang, and Grace Solar, with fixed mounting systems still holding the main market share. China’s supply capacity for PV mounting systems continues to increase. In 2020, the global shipments of major Chinese companies reached 43,286 MW, a year‑on‑year growth of 69.2%.

II. Policy Support: Intensive Policies at National and Local Levels

In 2022, the national government issued a series of policies supporting PV industry development. In January, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) together with the National Energy Administration (NEA) released the 14th Five‑Year Plan for Modern Energy Systems, explicitly stating that by 2025 the share of non‑fossil fuel power generation should reach about 39%, and by 2035 renewable energy should become the main power source. In March, the Ministry of Housing and Urban‑Rural Development issued the 14th Five‑Year Plan for Building Energy Efficiency and Green Building Development, promoting the integrated design, construction, and installation of building‑integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) for new buildings, encouraging government‑funded public buildings to increase solar PV applications, with cumulative new BIPV capacity of 50 GW.

At the local level, provinces and cities have introduced energy development plans specifying requirements for PV mounting systems. Zhuhai Municipal Development and Reform Bureau issued a notice to standardize distributed PV power generation projects, stipulating that the height from the highest point of PV modules to the mounting surface should not exceed 2.8 meters or 1 meter above the building’s highest plane. Shandong and other provinces launched BIPV promotion policies, with some provinces mandating a minimum PV coverage on new industrial rooftops as high as 100%.

On December 30, 2022, the China Photovoltaic Industry Association officially released the Technical Guidelines for Design and Installation of Flexible PV Mounting Systems (T/CPIA 0047‑2022), the first group standard for flexible mounting systems in China, effective January 15, 2023, providing an authoritative technical specification for the design and installation of flexible systems.

III. Project Updates: Steady Installation of Ground Mounting Systems Nationwide

In 2022, numerous ground PV power station projects were intensively launched across China, with mounting installation progressing steadily.

3.1 High‑pile Area PV Project in Wuzhou, Guangxi

In April 2022, the China Aneng First Engineering Bureau Nanning Branch successfully installed PV mounting and modules for the right‑bank upstream #1 array high‑pile area of the Wuzhou Wangcun PV power generation project in Changzhou District, Wuzhou City, Guangxi. The project utilizes open space around the Wangcun hydropower station to build ground PV. The design 30‑year flood level is 27.8 m, with the lowest point of modules not less than 28.5 m, and piles extending 6–8 m above ground. Two sets of mounting and module assemblies were installed per day.

3.2 Agri‑PV Complementary Project in Yan’an, Shaanxi

On June 29, 2022, the Datang Huanglong Sancha agri‑PV complementary power generation project officially began mounting and PV module installation. The project is located in Luozi Village, Sancha Town, Huanglong County, Yan’an City, combining PV power generation with agricultural production.

3.3 PV Project at Wastewater Treatment Plant in Liaoning

On May 20, 2022, the western wastewater treatment plant PV project of China Energy Engineering Group Dongdian No.3 Company achieved full‑capacity grid connection. Located in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, this is the first PV power plant in Northeast China to extensively adopt flexible mounting systems. Facing challenges such as limited ground space and high construction difficulty, flexible mounting technology effectively solved the installation problems.

3.4 First Distributed PV Project in an Electrolytic Aluminum Plant in China

In May 2022, China’s first distributed PV project inside an electrolytic aluminum plant achieved full‑capacity grid connection. Aluminum alloy mounting systems were installed, offering advantages such as aesthetic appearance, good corrosion resistance, and high scrap recovery value, embodying the green concept of building clean PV power stations with green and low‑carbon aluminum materials.

3.5 28 MW Ground Extra‑High‑Voltage Project in Japan

In August 2022, a 28 MW large‑scale ground PV plant in Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture, Japan, supplied by Mibet Energy, was completed and accepted. The project uses Mibet’s self‑developed PGT8 ground mounting system. The foundation adopts a piling method, driving “Π”‑shaped piles into the ground. It is designed for wind loads of 60 m/s and snow loads of 2 kN/m². Expected annual power generation is 46 million kWh, reducing CO₂ emissions by about 28,000 tons per year.

3.6 Tracking System Project on a Mountainous Highway Side

In July 2022, China’s first PV project on a mountainous highway side was completed, using Trina Solar’s Vertex 670W modules combined with Trina’s Vanguard 1P tracking system, each mounting up to 120 modules, turning a spoil ground into a valuable resource.

IV. Technology Innovation: Flexible and Tracking Systems Become Industry Hotspots

4.1 Rise of Flexible Mounting Systems

In 2022, flexible PV mounting systems became a technology focus. Flexible systems employ four installation methods: “suspension, tension, hanging, and bracing,” allowing free erection in all directions. They offer advantages such as reduced material usage, lighter load, lower cost, and shorter construction periods, suitable for large‑span applications like mountains, slopes, ponds, fish farms, and woodlands.

Economically, flexible systems significantly reduce the number of components, steel consumption, and number of columns compared to traditional solutions, ensuring cost competitiveness and installation convenience. However, the industry also noted challenges in wind resistance, requiring rigorous verification and design when used in typhoon‑prone areas.

4.2 Significant Increase in Tracking System Penetration

2022 saw rapid growth in the tracking system market. According to Dongxing Securities research reports, tracking systems can adjust the angle as the sun moves, typically achieving 5–35% higher power generation than fixed systems, offering better economics for many large ground power plants.

According to CPIA statistics, driven by significant growth in ground power plant installations, the market share of tracking systems in China reached a high of 12% in 2022. Arctech’s annual report shows that tracking system shipments in 2022 increased 43% year‑on‑year. By 2025, tracking system penetration is expected to reach 25–30%.

4.3 Company Technology Innovation Cases

In 2022, Sumec Energy obtained two utility model invention patents, including a “flexible PV mounting system for terraced terrain,” effectively solving technical challenges such as steep slopes and uneven elevations during mountainous construction. Trina Solar’s high‑stability, high‑precision Vanguard 1P tracking system also saw widespread application, reflecting continuous technological improvement.

V. Material Selection: Comparison of Aluminum Alloy, Hot‑Dip Galvanized Steel, and Galvanized Al‑Mg‑Zn Mountings

In 2022, PV mounting systems adopted diverse material technology routes, each with distinct characteristics.

5.1 Aluminum Alloy Mountings

Aluminum alloy PV mountings are mainly made of anodized aluminum profiles (e.g., Al6005‑T5). Under atmospheric conditions, they form a dense oxide film on the surface, offering excellent corrosion resistance, with corrosion rate decreasing over time. Aluminum alloy is light and aesthetically pleasing, generally used for small power stations with load constraints and highly corrosive environments. Aluminum retains about 65% recovery value after 30 years. However, its cost is about 1.3–1.5 times that of steel structures, and under strong winds or large spans, its deflection is about 2.9 times that of steel.

5.2 Hot‑Dip Galvanized Steel Mountings

Hot‑dip galvanized steel mountings use Q235B steel with a hot‑dip galvanized coating (thickness 55–80 μm). They offer high strength and low deflection under load, suitable for ordinary power stations or highly stressed components. Under normal conditions, 80 μm galvanizing ensures over 20 years of service life. However, in high‑humidity industrial zones or high‑salinity coastal areas, coating thickness needs to be increased to above 100 μm, with regular annual maintenance required.

5.3 Galvanized Al‑Mg‑Zn (ZAM) Mountings

Galvanized Al‑Mg‑Zn mountings gained significant attention in 2022. They use alloy metal sheets primarily containing zinc, aluminum, magnesium, etc. The addition of alloying elements provides self‑healing of cut edges, chlorine/alkali resistance, abrasion resistance, and corrosion protection, better suited for harsh environments such as deserts, tidal flats, and saline‑alkali land. The main feature is high cost‑effectiveness, saving costs and improving power station safety when properly used.

5.4 Weathering Steel Mountings

Weathering steel mountings are developed from weathering steel, offering mechanical properties of high‑quality steel and atmospheric corrosion resistance 2–8 times that of carbon steel, with corrosion resistance improving over time. They eliminate the need for galvanizing, shortening construction periods, reducing costs, and avoiding environmental pollution from hot‑dip galvanizing. Although slightly inferior in appearance, their environmental benefits, low cost, and maintenance‑free nature make them an emerging choice.

VI. Installation Guide: Common Foundation Types for Ground PV Mountings

Selecting the appropriate mounting foundation is a critical step in ground power station construction. Based on 2022 industry information, common foundation types include:

Precast Pile Foundation: Prestressed concrete pipe piles (diameter ~300 mm) or square piles (section ~200×200 mm) are driven into the ground, with reserved steel plates or bolts on top for connection to the mounting. Pile depth is generally less than 3 meters, offering simple and fast construction.

Bored Cast‑in‑Place Pile Foundation: Convenient hole forming, foundation top elevation can be adjusted according to terrain, low concrete reinforcement volume, minimal excavation, fast construction, minimal damage to original vegetation. Suitable for general fill, clay, silt, sand, etc.

Steel Screw Pile Foundation: Screwed into the ground using specialized machinery, very fast construction, no site leveling or earthwork, maximum protection of field vegetation. Suitable for deserts, grasslands, tidal flats, frozen soils, etc. Mounting height can be adjusted according to terrain.

Independent Foundation: Highest resistance to water load, flood, and wind, but largest consumption of reinforced concrete, long construction period, significant environmental impact. Less commonly used in PV projects.

Mounting design must account for dead loads, wind loads, snow loads, temperature loads, and seismic loads. Wind load is typically the controlling factor. Foundation design must ensure no failure under wind load.