Driven by favorable policies, falling module prices, and increasing energy security concerns, the global ground-mount solar system market experienced unprecedented growth in 2023. Industry reports indicate that utility-scale installations accounted for more than 60% of newly added photovoltaic capacity worldwide, cementing ground-mount systems as the backbone of the renewable energy transition.

Policy Tailwinds Accelerate Deployment

In the United States, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) continued to fuel a solar construction boom in 2023. Developers rushed to qualify for investment tax credits (ITC) by sourcing domestic content and locating projects in “energy communities.” One notable example was the Oak Run Solar Project in Ohio, a 800 MW ground-mount facility that broke ground in mid-2023. It was among the first large-scale installations to claim the full 30% tax credit under the IRA’s enhanced incentives.

China, the world’s largest solar market, added over 120 GW of new solar capacity in 2023, with ground-mount power stations making up the majority. The country’s “desertification control and large-scale PV base” initiative pushed forward several gigawatt-scale projects in the Gobi Desert and other western regions. By December 2023, the first phase of China’s mega solar bases—with a combined capacity exceeding 45 GW—had been connected to the grid.

Europe also saw a sharp rise in ground-mount installations. Countries like Germany, Spain, and Poland introduced streamlined permitting processes for solar parks. Germany alone added approximately 6 GW of ground-mount capacity in 2023, targeting open-space systems as a key pillar of its 215 GW solar goal by 2030.

Technological and Cost Trends

The levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) for ground-mount solar continued its decade-long decline. According to BloombergNEF’s 2023 year-end review, global average capital expenditure for utility-scale solar fell by 12% year-over-year, driven by lower module prices and improved supply chain conditions after pandemic-era disruptions.

Bifacial modules and single-axis trackers became the de facto standard for new ground-mount projects in 2023. “Combining bifacial panels with tracking systems allows developers to boost energy yield by up to 20-25% without increasing land use,” noted a report from Wood Mackenzie. Agrivoltaics—co-locating solar panels with crop production or grazing—also gained traction, with pilot projects in France, Japan, and the U.S. Midwest demonstrating how ground-mount systems can coexist with agriculture.

Challenges Remain

Despite rapid expansion, the industry faced headwinds. Grid interconnection queues in the U.S. and Europe grew longer, delaying many projects originally scheduled for 2023 commercial operation dates. Land-use conflicts also intensified, with environmental groups raising concerns about habitat fragmentation in rural areas. In response, several states and EU member states introduced “solar-friendly zoning” frameworks that encourage development on brownfields, landfills, and low-productivity farmland.