1. Industry Background

As global PV installed capacity continues to rise, the safety of photovoltaic systems has drawn increasing attention. In PV systems, the grounding lug acts as a core component ensuring system safety, playing the critical role of diverting lightning current and fault current into the earth, preventing equipment damage and personal injury. In 2024, against a backdrop of continued global PV growth and accelerated technological iteration, the grounding lug industry experienced comprehensive upgrades in technology, products, and standards.

In terms of market size, the global solar grounding lug market performed strongly in 2024. According to multiple research firms such as QYResearch and LP Information, the global solar grounding lug market size was approximately USD 350–358 million in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 465–471 million by 2031, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 3.8%–4.0% from 2025 to 2031. In terms of output, global solar grounding lug production in 2024 was approximately 223.8 million units, with an average global market price of about USD 1.60 per unit and a gross margin of approximately 14%. Major global manufacturers include Kseng Solar, Mibet Energy, Fasten Solar Technology, IronRidge, HQ Mount, and others, making the competitive landscape increasingly diversified.

2. 2024 Technological Breakthroughs: Intensive Patent Filings by Leading Companies

In 2024, the PV module grounding lug field saw intensive technological innovation and patent filings. Multiple leading enterprises and innovative companies promoted the evolution of grounding solutions from traditional copper-wire grounding to highly integrated, wireless designs through structural optimization and material innovation.

Trina Solar demonstrated strong R&D innovation vitality in 2024. On June 4, Trina Solar filed a patent for a “Frame Structure and Photovoltaic System,” which achieves grounding connections between PV modules by creating arc-shaped slots on the frame flange and connecting grounding elements. This design enables grounding without piercing the frame profile, reducing the risk of frame cracking without affecting waterproof performance while also being aesthetically pleasing. Just a few months later, Trina Solar was granted a utility model patent for “Grounding Lug and Photovoltaic Grounding System” in January 2024. The grounding lug features a unique double-barb structure to achieve reliable grounding connections while simplifying the manufacturing process. Notably, as of the end of January 2024, Trina Solar had obtained 34 new patent grants, a 100% increase year-on-year. In the first half of 2023, the company invested RMB 818 million in R&D, an increase of 30.98% year-on-year.

DAS Solar Co., Ltd. also made significant progress in grounding technology. In December 2024, DAS Solar received a patent for a “Photovoltaic Module Grounding Connection Structure and Photovoltaic Module,” which enables quick connection to the frame and greatly improves installation convenience.

Fujian Antai New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. introduced a more forward-looking technical solution. In September 2024, the company filed a patent for a “Wireless Grounding Device and Grounding Method for Photovoltaic Modules.” This wireless grounding device can bypass additional wires in the event of a lightning strike and directly conduct lightning current to the ground, simplifying the system structure while improving lightning protection reliability.

Runtai Precision Fastener Manufacturing Co., Ltd. also actively pursued grounding technology at the end of the year. In December 2024, the company filed a patent for a “Groundable Rivet for Photovoltaic Power Plant Supports and Its Installation Tool,” aiming to simplify operational steps and ensure long-term grounding effectiveness.

Jinchang Jinchuan Wanfang Industrial Co., Ltd. together with Jinchuan Group, obtained a patent for a “Protective Grounding Device for Photovoltaic Power Generation Modules” in October 2024. The device features an adjustable sliding plate design that adaptively clamps PV modules of different thicknesses, significantly improving compatibility.

In addition, Clenergy (Xiamen) Technology Co., Ltd. received a patent for a “Novel Penetrating Clip” in February 2024. The product uses sharp spikes on both sides of the conductive clip to abut against the rail surface, achieving reliable electrical continuity. Huadian Lightning Protection launched a quick-install lightning protection grounding wire clip for PV bracket clamps in August 2024, offering modular production and low-cost advantages.

From the perspective of patent filings, the technical evolution of PV grounding components in 2024 shows three major trends: expansion from external wires toward wireless solutions, development from single-function to integrated designs with frames and supports, and progression from standard general-purpose to highly adaptable solutions. These innovations effectively meet the diverse requirements of different application scenarios (such as floating PV, rooftop distributed PV, etc.) for grounding components.

3. Standard System Evolution: Accelerated Updates at Both International and Domestic Levels

In 2024, the standards and regulations for PV grounding components entered a phase of intensive updates, with safety compliance requirements continuing to rise.

At the international level, NEC (National Electrical Code) and UL standards remain the core basis for grounding system design in the North American PV market. NEC Article 250 (Grounding and Bonding) and Article 690 (PV Systems) explicitly require that all exposed non-current-carrying metal parts be grounded. According to relevant requirements, the size of equipment grounding conductors must be based on the rating of the overcurrent protective device per NEC 250.122; for 20A circuits, the copper EGC minimum is 12 AWG. For 1000 VDC systems, the standard requires a minimum 10 AWG, 105°C copper grounding conductor.

UL 2703 certification has become an important market access threshold for PV grounding components in North America. Testing requirements include 1000-hour salt spray testing and 25kV arc exposure testing to ensure reliability and safety in harsh environments. Studies have confirmed that compliant grounding components maintain a connection resistance of 0.01Ω during thermal cycling tests from -40°C to 120°C, meeting the safety requirements of PV systems with service lives exceeding 25 years.

Regarding IEC standards, IEC 61024 (Protection of Structures Against Lightning), IEC 61400-24 (Lightning Protection for Wind Turbine Systems), and IEC 61238-1 (Electrical connectors and splice lugs) provide critical standardization bases for the design, testing, and application of PV grounding components. These standards specify requirements in multiple aspects, including mechanical stress tolerance, temperature change adaptability, and vibration durability.

From an international perspective, leading global PV system installers and testing organizations emphasize that the design and maintenance of grounding systems should receive the same level of attention as any other electrical component in the system. The misconception that simply driving a ground rod ensures safe grounding is flawed—low-impedance continuity of the entire grounding system is key to ensuring reliable lightning and fault current discharge.

At the domestic (China) standard level, the 2024 edition of GB 50797-2012 “Code for Design of Photovoltaic Power Stations” explicitly specifies grounding requirements for PV arrays: PV array grounding must be continuous and reliable, with grounding resistance less than 4Ω; reliable grounding connection measures must be taken between module metal frames and metal supports; each support group must have no fewer than two connection points to the grounding grid, located at the two ends of the support group area. In addition, the 2024 edition of GB 50057 provides enhanced requirements for PV system lightning protection and electromagnetic pulse protection for electronic equipment against lightning strikes, applicable to the whole-process quality control of electrical engineering for industrial and civil buildings.

Furthermore, in a patent for composite material frames published in December 2024, DAS Solar effectively addressed the grounding difficulty caused by non-conductive composite frames (by integrating a conductive metal layer on the A-side of the frame), meeting safe grounding requirements in high-humidity, high-salt-fog marine environments.

4. Product and Solution Innovation: Efficient Installation Becomes a Key Theme

In 2024, product innovation in PV grounding components showed clear trends toward functional integration, ease of installation, and scenario customization.

On the product side, the Brundy-Wiley WEEB 6.7 Lay-in Lug became an industry highlight. This product integrates a WEEB washer (Washer, Electrical Equipment Bond), a lay-in lug, and mounting hardware, supporting single 14 AWG to 6 AWG copper wire or two 12 AWG to 10 AWG copper wires. It provides continuous grounding for rooftop or ground-mounted PV systems. Unlike traditional lay-in lugs, the WEEB washer requires no surface preparation on the mounting rail or module frame—when the hardware is tightened, special teeth on the WEEB washer penetrate the surface of anodized aluminum or galvanized steel, creating an airtight electrical connection. The product is ETL certified and complies with UL 467.

The IronRidge PV-LUG-01-A1 grounding lug, featuring a press-fit design and UL certification, offers an operating temperature range of -40°C to +85°C and a 25-year warranty, excelling in corrosion resistance and installation convenience.

Regarding installation methods, the trend toward functional integration is increasingly evident. Traditional grounding installations required up to six components, while next-generation integrated solutions (e.g., new grounding lug products from several leading manufacturers) have reduced the component count to about two, cutting installation time by approximately 40–50%. Some automatic locking clips can reduce installation time by 20% compared to bolted solutions. At the same time, tool-less installation solutions (such as nail-free, screw-free quick-assembly locking designs) are increasingly setting market trends, further reducing rooftop labor costs.

In terms of applications, the SnapNrack grounding lug for communications has gained positive market reception due to its advantages in stainless steel fastener corrosion life (withstanding 4000+ hours of salt spray testing) and rail thickness compatibility (1.5mm–3mm). The product has been independently tested to maintain a connection resistance of 0.01Ω over a wide temperature range of -40°C to 120°C, ensuring reliable fault current path integrity for over 25 years.

From an application scenario perspective, the requirements for grounding components are also becoming increasingly differentiated. Residential rooftop PV favors lightweight, tool-free installation solutions; large ground-mounted power plants (1MW+) demand high wind resistance (60m/s+) and installation consistency; floating PV requires alloy grounding clips with excellent salt-spray resistance; and BIPV applications prefer low-profile grounding components with aesthetic coatings.