What Makes Ground Mount Structures Ideal For Solar Energy Generation
When we think of solar panels, we visualize them on the roof of our house. That’s where we have commonly seen them, right? Even though rooftop installations are the most common, they can also be installed in other settings. The most preferred rooftop is the ground-mounted solar setup.
In this blog, we will help you understand what a ground-mounted setup is, its strength and weaknesses, and different types, and things to consider if you’re planning to install one.
Before understanding what exactly is a ground mounting structure, let us quickly understand what are mounting structures. Mounting structures are the skeleton or a framework of a solar panel. It holds these solar panels in place.
Refer to our previous blog to know more about solar mounts
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A ground-mounted solar power system is a group of solar panels mounted on the ground on a supporting structure. Energy is transferred from the panels to a solar inverter located either behind the mounting system or inside the house. Any location on your property that has adequate open space and receives direct exposure to the sun can be fitted with ground-mounted solar panels.
They function in fundamentally the same way as any other solar panel — you mount the panels at a fixed angle by using metal frames – that are thrust into the ground. It is possible to manually adjust some ground-mounted solar panel systems to match seasonal changes in the sun’s position.
Strengths and Weaknesses of Solar Ground Mounting Structures
See what the Solar Mounting Structure Manufacturers in India have to say about the plus points and drawbacks of the ground-mounted solar mounting structures.
Strengths
These are the advantages of housing solar panels on the ground:
- They can be installed to face any direction in almost any location to optimize energy production
- Orientation and angle flexibility is higher
- Easy maintenance
- No rooftop restrictions
- Higher energy production per panel
Weaknesses
There are some problems as well with ground-mounted solar structures:
- Higher installation cost
- Land restrictions, as applicable
- Unsafe to have around children, old people, and pets
- Easily accessible to trespassers
- Greater chances of accidental damage
Unique advantages of solar mounting structures
Solar mounting structures offer some advantages peculiar to themselves.
- They produce more energy per watt as compared to others
- Since a ground mount requires the bottom of the panels to be a few feet above the ground, air flows freely between the ground and the panels, keeping the temperature lower, thereby increasing their efficiency.
- Perfect choice for those who want to set up a solar energy production unit. Once a large area of land open to sunlight is chosen, the setting up process takes very little time and can be fenced off on completion to ensure security.
Solar mounting manufacturers have tapped on the rising demand for solar power installations in India. By 2026, the global PV utility market is expected to grow by 9.85%.
Types of ground-mounted solar installations
Traditional ground-mount systems
Each mounting structure has its pros and cons, but it is up to the user to determine which one would be most beneficial for him. Roof-mounted panels are likely to be the best and cheapest option if you have lots of unused roof space, but ground-mounted panels are more suitable if you have land resources and a higher energy requirement.
Barren, saline, and rocky land can be utilized for setting up ground-mounted solar energy generation projects. For home set-ups, covering the unusable ground with concrete blocks and mounting the structures on them is a viable option. The same applies to solar energy set-ups in commercial premises.
Tracking systems
To maximize energy production, installers use a tracking system. These systems have moving panels that follow the sun optimizing the angle at which receives the maximum sunlight. Favorable to commercial markets, solar tracking systems are not preferred for residential purposes. Solar tracking systems come in single and dual axes. Single-axis systems track a single path, i.e, following the sun’s East-West or north-south movements, whereas dual-axis systems can track a circular path capturing total power by orienting the panels towards direct sunlight. They have both horizontals as well as vertical axes moving in the east-west and north-south directions tracking the sun’s entire movement.
Carports and canopies
Solar carports and canopies are the most common in commercial setups, mainly schools and business premises; they can be defined as really tall ground mounts. Solar panels supported overhead by large steel beams embedded in reinforced concrete foundations are called canopies. A variety of carports are equipped with ground-mounted solar charging stations for electric vehicles, enhancing their utility as shelter.
Final Thoughts
As a solar mounting structure manufacturer in India, we would recommend you to go for ground-mounted structures if you have the space. Even though the installation is expensive in comparison to rooftop structures, the benefits are more too. For instance, they work best in areas that are not shaded by buildings, walls, signboards, or trees and can be installed at the ideal tilt and orientation for maximum sunlight. You can also add a solar tracker to increase productivity.
In the last decade, solar energy has grown 33-fold in India. Pinax, a leading manufacturer of solar mounting systems, is setting new standards for solar energy devices by offering a wide range of solar mounting systems.
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