1. Trackers: Global Shipments Exceed 100 GW for First Time, Chinese Manufacturers Take Three Seats in Global Top 10

In 2024, global PV tracker shipments increased by 20% year‑on‑year to 111 GW, surpassing the 100 GW milestone for the first time. Chinese manufacturers performed particularly strongly: Arctech jumped from 5th place in 2023 to 2nd globally, with shipments of 17.41 GW, a year‑on‑year increase of 127.93%, and global market share rising from 9% to 16%; TrinaTracker remained 6th globally, with shipments of 7.3 GW; Antai New Energy entered the global top 10 for the first time, ranking 9th with shipments of 2.55 GW, up 40% year‑on‑year. Chinese manufacturers now occupy three seats in the global top 10.

Regional market performance diverged sharply: the US market shipped 33 GW, a 9% decline year‑on‑year – the first drop in eight years; the Middle East shipped 15.4 GW, a year‑on‑year increase of 205%, with Arctech ranking first in shipments and TrinaTracker fourth; Europe shipped 22.95 GW, with TrinaTracker ranking 4th with a 10% market share – the best ever performance by a Chinese company in Europe; Asia‑Pacific shipped 25 GW, with India becoming the largest market at 15.8 GW, and Arctech shipping 7.6 GW in India, capturing a 48% market share. In contrast, China‘s tracker installations were only 3.604 GW, a 13% year‑on‑year decrease, accounting for just 3% of the global total – a huge growth potential compared to penetration rates exceeding 80% in the US, Middle East, Latin America, and other regions.

2. Flexible Mounts: Spatial Cable‑Net Structure Becomes Industry Standard, Validated by Category 17 Typhoon

In 2024, flexible mounts completed a critical transition from “proof‑of‑concept” to “large‑scale replacement”, and the core technical approach converged – the pre‑stressed steel cable‑net structure became the industry standard. At SNEC 2024, several companies showcased flexible mount products: Arctech launched the world‘s first wirelessly synchronised multi‑point drive flexible tracking system “SkyRack”, featuring a 10 m high clearance, 35 m large span, and up to 60% north‑south slope capability, suitable for agrivoltaics, fishery‑solar, grazing‑solar, wastewater treatment plants, and other complex scenarios. NengHui Technology released a customised flexible mount solution, not limited to single‑layer cable, double‑layer cable, or fish‑belly cable truss designs, but providing standardised design services through a six‑step process – layout, material selection, modelling and calculation, structural analysis, foundation design, and construction drawing production.

In terms of extreme weather validation, DAS Solar‘s flexible PV mounts at the 70 MW fishery‑solar hybrid project in Ding’an, Hainan, successfully withstood Super Typhoon Yagi (Category 17) – only 50 km from the landing point – and the plant operated stably. The mounts passed wind tunnel tests at Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, performing excellently at wind speeds of 46 m/s without torsional instability caused by wind‑induced vibration. Previously, DAS Solar‘s flexible mounts had withstood multiple extreme weather events, including Typhoons “Talim” and “Koinu” (both exceeding level 12). The Haikou Meilan fishery‑solar hybrid project innovatively applied a large‑span flexible mount design, with a maximum span of 41 m – the largest single span for a flexible mount in China‘s coastal typhoon zone.

3. AI‑Powered Intelligent Tracking: Algorithms Become Standard, Industry Standard Released

In 2024, AI‑powered intelligent tracking algorithms became standard in the tracker industry. TrinaTracker‘s SuperTrack algorithm uses AI and big data to track the optimal tilt angle of each row of mounts in real time. Its intelligent tracking technology won the Silver Award of the 25th China Patent Award – the highest achievement in the PV industry‘s intellectual property field to date. Data from the National Photovoltaic and Energy Storage Empirical Platform showed that horizontal single‑axis trackers generated 15.9% more electricity than fixed‑tilt systems, and trackers performed better during local peak hours. Using AI intelligent algorithms can increase generation by an additional 2‑4% on top of conventional tracking, with the extra generation concentrated in the morning and evening peak periods.

In terms of standard development, in September 2024, China‘s first intelligent tracker standard – “Test Method for Intelligent Tracking Performance of PV Trackers” (T/CPIA 0082‑2024) – led by Trina Solar and jointly developed by 15 companies and institutions, was officially approved. Intelligent tracking technology adjusts the tracking angle in real time based on weather conditions, adapts to uneven terrain to reduce shading losses, and optimises the tracking angle based on the generation characteristics of bifacial modules.

The IEC 62817 PV mounting standard was also updated and revised in 2024, with in‑depth discussions on new technology standards for intelligent tracking, floating PV mounts, flexible mounts, and other emerging technologies. On 23‑24 October, the IEC support components working group autumn meeting was held in Xi‘an, with TrinaTracker participating as a working group member, promoting the standardisation of trackers both domestically and internationally.

4. Material Innovation: Zn‑Al‑Mg Coating Proliferates, High‑Strength Steel Drives Lightweighting

In 2024, Zn‑Al‑Mg coated steel moved from “optional” to “standard” in PV mounting applications. Its self‑healing properties at cut edges provide corrosion resistance 5‑10 times better than traditional hot‑dip galvanising, extending service life to over 35 years.

Pangang achieved full grade coverage of medium‑aluminium Zn‑Al‑Mg products for PV applications, from 250 MPa to 550 MPa. Its products showed no red rust after 4,000 hours of neutral salt spray testing and are warranted for 30 years of service. Shanxi Jianlong successfully developed 550 MPa high‑strength Zn‑Al‑Mg strip steel S550GD+ZM, allowing PV mount purlin thickness to be reduced to 1.8 mm and column thickness to 2.0‑2.5 mm, with an overall weight reduction of 12%, effectively lowering material cost and installation difficulty. Coating weight not less than 275 g/m² provides reliable protection for PV mounts for more than 25 years.

In December 2024, the industry standard T/CSTA 0077‑2024 “Continuously hot‑dip zinc‑aluminium‑magnesium alloy coated steel strip for PV mounts” was officially released, providing a unified technical specification for the production, sale, and use of galvanised and Zn‑Al‑Mg coated steel strip for PV mounts. In the field of composite materials, T/CSTM 01224‑2024 “Technical requirements for continuous fibre‑reinforced composite PV mounts” was also released, marking the availability of standardisation for new materials in PV mounting applications.

In practical application, an M‑shaped array gutter installed on a 40 kW rural residential PV plant in Shanxi, made of pre‑galvanised Zn‑Al‑Mg steel, performed excellently during heavy rain, ensuring long‑term waterproofing stability. The gutter is placed under the gap between adjacent PV panels, using smooth walls and an unobstructed drainage path to effectively prevent water pooling between modules and the roof.

5. Rail‑less and Fast‑Install Systems: Installation Efficiency Revolution

In 2024, rail‑less and fast‑install systems rapidly spread in flat‑roof and C&I projects. Clenergy launched the PV‑ezRack Ascent 1.1, a low‑ballast, north‑south oriented rail‑less flat‑roof mounting solution with tilt angles of 10° and 15°, using a snap‑in technique for tool‑free installation and aerodynamic optimisation through wind tunnel testing to reduce ballast requirements. Mibet‘s Flax S10 full‑wind‑deflector matrix system uses multi‑faceted wind deflection and short‑side module fixation, allows tool‑free assembly of system connectors using positioning jigs, and offers three ballasting options to suit different environmental requirements. AEROCOMPACT‘s S_BASE flat‑roof fast‑install system features a four‑part minimalist design (lightweight aluminium ballast plates, upright brackets, wind deflectors, and module clamps). Brackets snap into place with an audible click, requiring no tools. A single pallet can hold 144 ballast plates, sufficient for 120 modules, greatly reducing transport costs. The system accommodates modules up to 8 ft (approx. 2.44 m) long, adapting to large‑format module trends.

To accommodate large‑format modules, Zhangzhou Jingzhao Technology obtained a patent for a “roof ballasted PV mount and roof PV panel system”. Through the design of first and second adjustable pressure‑foot components, the system achieves adjustable, adaptive installation for PV panels of different thicknesses, solving the installation difficulty caused by non‑uniform thickness of large‑format modules.

For balcony solar brackets: Mibet launched a triangular stable structure bracket with flexible angle adjustment for different sunlight conditions; lightweight design allows 1‑2 people to install without welding. Skyworth PV‘s “Qiaokeli” fast‑install bracket system is designed for concrete flat‑roof distributed PV plants, using standardised, modular design for rapid installation. WeiWang Optoelectronics‘ “GuangYiFang” uses a “four‑link, three‑in‑one” integrated pre‑assembled design for a plug‑and‑play DIY experience.

6. Offshore PV and BIPV: Emerging Scenarios Accelerate Deployment

Offshore PV: China‘s first deep‑sea hexagonal truss floating PV platform completed design and construction in July 2024, solving the problem of wave impact damage to PV modules and electrical systems, and meeting the requirements of a 50‑year return period for severe sea conditions. Mibet showcased offshore PV technology for the first time at SNEC 2024, using a “steel + inorganic inert float” structure; the rigid‑flexible combination ensures system stability. The G5A floating system uses a “high‑density polyethylene (HDPE) float + aluminium rail” structure; the floats have passed industry tests for impact resistance, UV ageing, etc., and the modular design facilitates installation.

BIPV (Building‑Integrated Photovoltaics): A drainage‑edge BIPV carport system uses a multi‑layer waterproof structure of “BIPV symmetrical rails + gutters + edge trim”, collecting rainwater in gutters via BIPV rails and draining through PVC pipes. The fully wrapped, integrated, sealed drainage system ensures leak‑free operation. Mibet‘s BIPV carport system features multiple waterproofing technologies – structural, sealing strip, and design – combining dual rails, gutters, and sealing strips to form a tight structure that blocks rainwater penetration. Arctech, with its dual “tracking+” and “green power+” exhibition areas at SNEC, covered its two core businesses – mounting systems and BIPV – focusing on zero‑carbon scenarios such as building‑integrated photovoltaics.

7. Smart Installation and O&M: Robots + AI Drive Efficiency Revolution

In 2024, the intelligence level of PV plant installation and O&M increased significantly. PV panel installation robots have been deployed in several large‑scale projects. A single robot can install 80‑100 PV panels per hour. The average daily installation of fixed‑tilt modules per person reached 150 panels, a 2.14× efficiency improvement compared to manual installation (70 panels/day), greatly reducing the risk of breakage and micro‑cracks during module installation.

Arctech‘s next‑generation PV intelligent cleaning robot, launched at SNEC, uses a lightweight high‑strength composite body, 30% lighter and 20% longer battery life than traditional cleaning robots. It uses an intelligent four‑wheel drive design with ±20° torsional angle, offering excellent climbing and obstacle‑crossing ability. With strong wind protection design, it withstands wind speeds above 50 m/s, equipped with intelligent mechanical wind‑stow parking for stable parking under high winds. The system can be controlled via SCADA or mobile app, enabling smart, efficient O&M throughout the plant‘s lifecycle.

PV inspection robots integrating AI technology also made their debut, embedding smart O&M systems in drones, responding to commands in real time, detecting system faults and hidden dangers, and instantly directing cleaning robots to work or issuing O&M work orders online, performing excellently in reducing O&M costs and increasing plant generation.

In construction techniques, the 650 MW PV project in Fukang, Shandong, used an installation work platform built on the PV mount structure, offering high construction stability and rapid transfer speed, significantly improving construction efficiency. China‘s first integrated PV module demonstration project used a mechanised assembly platform, increasing construction efficiency by 28% compared to traditional methods.

8. Capital Market Dynamics: Active Financing and Listings

In 2024, the PV mounting industry was also active in the capital market. Yongzhen Co., Ltd. listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange‘s main board in June 2024, raising over RMB 1.385 billion in its initial public offering, mainly for aluminium alloy PV frame mounting and battery tray projects. Youli Intelligent (a core component manufacturer for PV mounts) plans to list on the Beijing Stock Exchange, raising RMB 358 million.

Clenergy plans to issue convertible corporate bonds raising up to RMB 500 million, to be used for a smart distributed PV mounting system factory, an energy R&D centre, and working capital. Arctech‘s RMB 1.1 billion private placement was approved by the Shanghai Stock Exchange, with RMB 258 million to be used for a parallel drive capacity expansion project for PV tracking systems.

9. Industry Standards and Policy Developments

Standard development: Several industry standards made significant progress in 2024. “General technical specification for PV mounts” (T/UNP 193‑2024) was released on 20 September 2024 and came into effect on 20 December 2024, providing a unified technical basis for the design, manufacture, and inspection of PV mounts. “Design code for flexible PV mount systems” (T/CSPSTC 137-2024) was released on 30 September 2024 and came into effect on 30 October 2024, specifying requirements for structural design, connection nodes, corrosion protection, and other aspects of flexible mounts. In December 2024, “Continuously hot‑dip zinc‑aluminium‑magnesium alloy coated steel strip for PV mounts” (T/CSTA 0077‑2024) was officially released, providing a technical specification for the production and sale of coated steel strip for mounts.

Policy developments: In October, the National Energy Administration issued the “Distributed PV Power Generation Development and Construction Management Measures (Draft for Comments)”, specifying that “large‑scale C&I distributed PV plants below 6 MW must be fully self‑consumed”, sparking industry debate. Effective 1 December, China reduced the export tax rebate rate for certain PV products from 13% to 9%, covering wafers, cells, and modules, aiming to steer the industry from low‑price competition toward high‑quality development. More than 450 counties nationwide showed red zones for low‑voltage hosting capacity, making grid connection constraints for distributed PV increasingly severe and putting pressure on distributed project returns.

10. 2024 PV Mounting System Technology Trend Summary

11. Future Outlook

Looking ahead to 2025 and beyond, PV mounting systems will continue to evolve in the following directions:

Increased tracker penetration: China‘s tracker penetration is only 3%. With the implementation of Document No. 136, the domestic market will fully enter a market‑trading era, and tracker demand is expected to surge.

Continued evolution of AI intelligent algorithms: AI‑driven plant design, intelligent tracking, and predictive maintenance will further reduce LCOE.

Deep PV‑storage integration: As storage costs fall, “PV + storage” systems will become the standard configuration, and grid‑forming inverters will enable solar plants to provide the grid support traditionally supplied by conventional generators.

Deepening globalisation: Arctech, TrinaTracker, and Antai New Energy have already established production capacity in Saudi Arabia, Brazil, India, and elsewhere. Chinese companies‘ global supply chains will be further refined.

Increasingly robust standard systems: From intelligent tracking test methods to flexible mount design codes, the industry standard system will gradually improve.