What types of metal structures for ground-mounted solar plants are currently the most common on the market?

A ground-based solar power plant is a long-term investment that should not only ensure uninterrupted clean electricity production but also provide the maximum long-term source of profit. Therefore, at the facility implementation stage, every detail and component is important for the efficient operation of the entire system. This is especially true of support solutions for mounting solar modules. Their quality, reliability, and durability determine the lifespan of the solar power plant.

What types of metal structures for ground-mounted solar plants are currently the most common on the market?

Support systems for ground-based installation can be static (metal structures with a fixed “unique” inclination angle of solar panels) and tracker (structures with a movable main axis that can rotate and change the inclination angle of the panels relative to the sun).

Static metal structures

Static structures for ground-based solar power plants have two classification features.

The first is the number of supports. Most manufacturers offer single- or two-support designs. However, there are also three-support ones. These are most often used for mounting solar modules on carports. 

The need to use a single- or two-support structure is determined by the parameters of the solar panels and their number. The larger the panel, the greater its weight and, accordingly, the load on the structure. The choice of the number of supports is also impacted by the climatic conditions at the installation site. For example, in areas with high snow cover, the EN 1991-1-3 standard is used.

From the point of view of optimal metal consumption, single-support systems are the best solution. KNESS Group has successfully implemented more than 200 MW of solar power plants in Ukraine using this model of metal structures. However, a more popular type of structure is the two-support static system. We have built more than 800 MW of solar power plants in Ukraine using two-support metal structures of in-house production. The same types of support systems are exported to the European market. More than 23 MW of solar power plants have been built in Latvia and Poland with Ukrainian KNESS steel structures.

The second classification feature is the panel type. The most efficient solar modules on the market are available in diverse variations, including monofacial and bifacial panels, which allow for additional generation by absorbing sunlight from both the front and back sides. These types of panels are a perfect fit for installation in areas with good reflective properties, for example, when the soil structure is dominated by white gravel.

Accordingly, to maximize the area of the back side of the panel that can absorb solar radiation, the metal structure should be adapted for bifacial panels so that the smallest percentage of the panel surface is covered by profiles.

Dynamic metal structures

Tracker structures can increase generation by 25-30% due to the constant rotation of the panels at the optimal angle towards the sunlight direction. However, their main disadvantage is the cost. A tracker system is 30-50% more expensive than a static structure for a solar station of the same capacity. Also, such systems require special attention in terms of maintenance of motors and moving parts, which is an additional cost item.

What should be taken into account when choosing metal structures?

When choosing equipment for a ground-based solar station, in particular, mounting metal structures, there are several important characteristics to consider:

• functional stability of support systems (with a manufacturer’s warranty of up to 20 years);
• anti-corrosion resistance of the metal (with a manufacturer’s warranty of up to 10 years);
• parameters of metal profiles, including thickness, which must meet the standards;
• type of pile installation (driving/screwing/concreting);
• what size/capacity of the panel the table is designed for;
• resistance to atmospheric loads (wind, snow);
• ease of installation of support systems;
• optimal metal consumption (lower metal consumption ensures lower CAPEX);
• manufacturer’s reliability and experience.

KNESS designs and manufactures reliable and metal-optimized support structures for ground-based and rooftop solar power plants. With 14 years of EPC experience in solar energy, we know the entire life cycle of metal structures. This helps us to design and manufacture a high-quality end product. We offer solutions that can be adapted to any terrain and to different sizes and capacities of panels. We also have the capacity to design and manufacture support systems individually tailored to customer needs.

Learn more about KNESS solutions for ground-based solar power plants here.