Solar mounting systems are components largely made of steel, or aluminium, and hold solar panels in place and secure them against weather and environmental conditions. Mounting systems determine the angle, orientation, and contribute to the durability of a solar installation. They can be unmoving ‘fixed-tilt’ systems or trackers following the path of the sun. In Europe, industry estimates see a rough 50-50 split between these fixed or tracking systems for utility-scale projects.
Mounting systems are increasingly playing a role in stretching the abundant solar generation midday peak to the morning and evening, easing pressure on the grid and supporting the business case for solar.
‘Solar Mounting Structures Explained’ details the large EU ecosystem of mounting system providers: upwards of 40 companies in the EU develop mounting solutions across the rooftop, ground-mount segments, as well as façade, Agri-PV, solar carports, and all kinds of solar PV applications. This includes recognised global market leaders for trackers, fixed ground-mount and rooftop mounting.
In this new study, SolarPower Europe makes a number of recommendations to reinforce the solar mounting systems segment in Europe:
Net-Zero Industry Act
- Adding mounting structures more widely to the implementation of the Net-Zero Industry Act at the national level; the NZIA only highlights tracking mounting systems.
Custom Codes
- Developing specific custom codes for both solar mounting structures and trackers, that can help track and identify the shipments of these components in international trade, as is done for solar inverters and modules.
Quality Standards
- Creating harmonised and robust quality standards across three key areas: structural integrity, transparency, and warranties, in order to support the development of a single market for quality mounting systems.
Solar Mounting Systems Explained - Supporting Europe’s Flexible Solar Future
This report maps the market for solar mounting systems in Europe, revealing their critical role in the continent’s solar manufacturing base and in shaping the flexible energy system of tomorrow.
Mounting Systems Explained joins SolarPower Europe’s suite of reports dedicated to key elements of the solar value chain, including Inverters Explained, Solar Production Equipment Explained, and the European Market Outlook for Battery Storage. Mounting Systems Explained was produced with the support of Allimex, Enson, GSE Integration, K2 System, Next Tracker, Solarport, and Soltec.
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