I. Major Technological Breakthrough: Flexible Mounts Usher in a New Era for Rooftop PV

In 2022, the most notable technological breakthrough in the PV mounting field was the large-scale application of flexible mounts. On July 31, the nation’s first rooftop flexible-mount PV project – the 6.00264 MW distributed PV project of Guoneng Shenfu (Jinjiang) Thermal Power, located on the rooftop of Fengzhu Textile New Factory in Anjian Park, Jinjiang City, Fujian Province – was successfully connected to the grid at full capacity. The project utilized approximately 47,000 square meters of workshop and dormitory rooftops to build a distributed solar PV system, operating under a “self-consumption, surplus power connected to the grid” model.

The technological innovation of this project effectively solved pain points associated with traditional rooftop PV. Due to the complex rooftop conditions of workshops one and two, where 5-6 meter high lighting skylights caused severe shading to the distributed PV modules, the traditional fixed-mount solution would have significantly limited module capacity arrangement. The project team adopted an innovative flexible-mount solution by erecting steel columns on top of concrete columns on the textile factory roof, then fixing PV panels onto steel strands under tension. This approach successfully adapted to local conditions, reduced costs, and improved efficiency.

In terms of actual results, the advantages of flexible mounts are very prominent. According to a representative from the Guoneng Group Fujian Jinjiang Thermal Power Company, compared to traditional layouts, the flexible mount solution increased the number of PV modules on the same area by 7,359 units, increased installed capacity by nearly 4.3 MW, and generated an additional 5.17 million kWh annually. This maximized land utilization and achieved full-capacity layout under land-scarce conditions. The project has a total installed capacity of 6.00624 MW, an average annual power generation of about 6.98 million kWh, and is expected to save approximately 2,291.67 tons of standard coal and reduce CO₂ emissions by about 6,965.84 tons per year after operation.

Industry insiders point out that flexible mount systems offer large spans and flexible span adjustments, featuring flexible layout, high power generation efficiency, good crack resistance, low steel consumption, and low load-bearing requirements. On the same land area with large spans, the module capacity of flexible mounts is about three times that of fixed mounts. Given their flexible, adjustable, and space-saving characteristics, flexible mounts have broad application prospects in complex terrains such as tidal flats, fish ponds, sewage treatment plants, mountainous areas, barren slopes, and water ponds.

II. Continuous Market Expansion, Industry Enters High-Growth Period

Against the backdrop of continuously rising PV installed capacity, the PV mounting industry maintained strong growth momentum in 2022. In 2021, China’s new PV capacity reached 54.88 GW, of which distributed PV accounted for 29.28 GW, representing approximately 55% of total new PV capacity – the first time distributed PV surpassed centralized installations. The increasing share of distributed PV created significant incremental demand for roof mounting products.

In terms of market size, China’s PV mounting industry returned to growth after a brief downturn. In 2021, the market size recovered to approximately 17.5 billion yuan, with a year-on-year growth rate of about 51.91%. With continued increases in PV installation capacity, the market size is expected to reach 19 billion yuan in 2022.

From a product structure perspective, PV mounts are mainly divided into fixed mounts and tracking mounts. Fixed mounts are installed at an angle that maximizes annual solar radiation; tracking mounts follow the sun’s position, actively adjusting the module orientation to maximize solar radiation utilization, thereby increasing power generation and achieving higher returns. As market acceptance of tracking mounts improves, the penetration rate of tracking mounts in China is recovering, rising to 18.7% in 2020 and further to 21.56% in 2021, with an expected penetration rate of 23% in 2022.

Looking at the global market, worldwide PV mounting shipments grew to approximately 210.5 GW in 2021, an increase of about 67.44% compared to 2020. It is forecasted that by 2025, global PV mounting shipments could exceed 450 GW. The global PV mounting market size grew from approximately 35.98 billion yuan in 2020 to 58.216 billion yuan in 2021, a year-on-year growth rate of about 61.8%.

III. Installation Process Innovation: “No Roof Panel Removal” Solution Addresses Rooftop PV Pain Points

In response to pain points in traditional rooftop PV installation such as “difficulty in removing roof panels, high costs, and limited load-bearing capacity,” a number of innovative solutions emerged across various regions in 2022. The “no roof panel removal” BIPV (Building-Integrated PV) system installation process developed by Zhoushan Power Supply Company in Zhejiang Province became a highlight. This method, based on “leveling” the corrugated steel roof, lays a drainage system and uses L-shaped brackets and self-tapping screws to penetrate the corrugated steel, securely connecting the PV panel mounts to the roof steel structure.

This innovative process effectively solved core challenges in promoting distributed PV on factory rooftops in island areas. Traditional rooftop PV systems require mounting PV panel brackets by pouring concrete blocks, with an average weight of about 400 kg per 10 square meters – imposing high load-bearing requirements on building roofs. In contrast, factory rooftops on islands are mostly covered with corrugated steel sheets with limited load-bearing capacity, and removing corrugated steel can cost up to one million yuan per thousand square meters.

The application results of the “no roof panel removal” solution are significant. Zhejiang’s first such BIPV project – the Wanbang Shipbuilding Heavy Industry Co., Ltd. rooftop distributed PV project – was connected to the grid earlier in the year, saving the company about one million yuan. The solution greatly reduces roof load pressure, saves an average of nearly 30% in installation costs, significantly lowers safety risks associated with high-altitude work, increases usable roof area by more than 70%, and substantially boosts PV installed capacity.

Additionally, given the typhoon-prone characteristics of Zhejiang Province, Zhoushan Power Supply Company collaborated with the School of Architecture at Tongji University to establish a “rooftop PV wind resistance index model.” This successfully replaced previous experience-based wind-resistant designs; simply inputting relevant data of a planned project’s roof automatically generates the most suitable wind-resistant design parameters for that roof.

IV. Continued Policy Support, Institutional Guarantees for Rooftop PV Development

In 2022, national and local governments intensively issued a series of policy measures supporting PV mounts and rooftop PV development, creating a favorable policy environment for the industry.

At the national level, since 2006, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), National Energy Administration (NEA), and other agencies have consistently issued policy documents supporting and regulating the PV industry, covering production, sales, fiscal and tax policies, subsidies, land use policies, and other relevant aspects. In January 2022, the NDRC and the NEA jointly issued the “14th Five-Year Plan for Modern Energy Systems,” clearly setting targets of non-fossil fuel power generation accounting for about 39% of total electricity consumption by 2025 and renewable energy becoming the main power source by 2035.

At the local level, various regions introduced specific incentive policies. In November 2022, Hefei City, Anhui Province, issued the “Detailed Rules of Several Policies for Further Promoting High-Quality Development of the PV Industry,” offering one-time subsidies of up to 0.2 yuan/W and 0.4 yuan/W to investors of rooftop PV and BIPV projects with capacities of 100 kW or more, with a maximum subsidy of 100,000 yuan per project. The policy also explicitly supports manufacturers of supporting products including mounts, rewarding companies with annual revenues exceeding 100 million yuan, 500 million yuan, and 800 million yuan with subsidies of 100,000 yuan, 200,000 yuan, and 300,000 yuan, respectively.

In terms of industry standards, the group standard “Construction Specifications for Grid-Connected Household Rooftop Distributed PV Power Generation Projects” (T/ZS 0280-2022), released in May 2022, systematically standardizes site surveys, design schemes, installation, and commissioning for household PV, covering various mounting methods including hook-type aluminum alloy mounting, C-steel mounting, and sunroom mounting. Additionally, multiple regions issued safety management regulations explicitly requiring PV mounts to use anti-corrosion, anti-rust materials that comply with the “General Technical Requirements for Solar PV System Mounts JG/T490,” with wind load and gravity load grades meeting national standards for steel structure construction quality acceptance.

V. Emergence of New Composite Material Mounts, Accelerated Application of Composites

In 2022, significant progress was made in composite material PV mount technology, providing a new technical path for lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and long-life PV mounts.

Chongqing Yixuan successfully produced composite PV mounts in May 2022 and completed a demonstration rooftop distributed PV power generation project in early September. These composite PV mounts are assembled from high-performance pultruded profiles using an innovative structural design, with a glass fiber content of up to 80%. Compared to traditional metal mounts, they offer longer service life, lower carbon footprint, corrosion resistance, and high strength, providing better solutions for PV applications in seawater, saline-alkali areas, fish ponds, and high-altitude environments.

Notably, there is still room for innovation in composite material mount technology. One invention patent proposes replacing galvanized steel mount systems with composite material solar mounts, using composite material beams, longitudinal beams, and short columns instead of traditional metal components, thereby improving service life, reducing weight, and enhancing corrosion resistance – suitable for future development trends.

VI. BIPV Integration Development, Expanding and Redefining the Value of Mounts

In 2022, Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) became an industry hotspot, and the concept and value of PV mounts were being redefined. Unlike early rooftop PV systems that typically used concrete foundations or clamps and rails to fix mounts to roofs, BIPV integrates the PV system with the building system through simultaneous design, construction, and installation. BIPV custom PV modules are directly connected to the underlying corrugated steel roof via specialized clamps, eliminating excess rails, mounts, and other elements, resulting in a highly integrated system.

On June 29, Antai New Energy officially launched its new BIPV product “Taiyang Ding” (Sun Top). The product uses high-performance aluminum alloy, exceeding Chinese national standards by 20%, achieves 100% waterproofing, simplifies installation to “place, press, clip,” and enables preventive, lightweight, and customized maintenance. It reduces system costs by 20%, increases efficiency by 50%, and has a service life of up to 50 years – comparable to the building itself.

In August, Arctech (Chasing Sun) globally launched its next-generation tracking system. The company’s main business includes R&D, design, production, and sales of tracking mounts, fixed mounts, and BIPV systems. The active deployment of leading companies reflects the growing maturity of the BIPV sector.

VII. Companies Compete and Innovate, Industry Vitality Bursts Forth

In 2022, innovation activities in the PV mounting field were exceptionally active. Schletter Group, a global leading solar mounting system manufacturer, showcased its latest products and solutions at the Munich International Solar Exhibition, focusing on maximizing efficiency – including material utilization and installation speed. Its ProLine pitched roof system features a new profile geometry that significantly reduces material consumption while withstanding higher loads.

Antai New Energy, recognized as one of the most innovative PV mounting companies of 2022 for its BIPV innovations, developed the “Taiyang Ding” all-aluminum BIPV product using Antai’s proprietary high-performance aluminum alloy, achieving comprehensive upgrades in waterproofing, installation, maintenance, performance, and stability.

Qingyuan Photovoltaics launched two new ground PV mounting system rails, improving system stability and durability. Mountain Technology, a company listed on the NEEQ Innovation Layer, was granted a patent for a “dual-angle adjustable solar mounting bracket,” reflecting continuous deep cultivation of technical details within the industry.