Comparison of Three Types of Solar Ground Mounting System

Efficient Construction: The installation speed is extremely fast; a single screw pile can be screwed into the ground within a few minutes, significantly shortening the construction period. In large-scale PV projects, it can notably reduce the overall project construction time and quickly achieve power generation benefits. For example, a mountainous PV project using screw pile brackets shortened the construction period by nearly one-third compared to traditional foundation construction.

Environmentally Friendly: It does not require large-scale site leveling and earth excavation, maximizing the protection of vegetation in the site and reducing damage to the surrounding ecological environment. After construction, the site is easy to restore to its original state, conforming to the concept of sustainable development. This advantage is particularly prominent for PV projects in ecologically fragile areas.

Strong Adjustability: Connected to the upper bracket via bolts, it can flexibly adjust the height and angle of the bracket to adapt to different terrains and lighting conditions, ensuring that PV modules are always at the optimal power generation angle. In areas with undulating terrain such as mountains, it can effectively improve the power generation efficiency of the PV system.

Reusable: When the project ends or needs to be relocated, the screw piles can be reversed and pulled out for secondary use, reducing the post-project disposal cost and improving resource utilization.

Relatively High Cost: The material cost is relatively high, and specialized construction machinery is required, increasing the cost of equipment rental or purchase. For small projects with limited budgets, it may cause cost pressure.

Bearing Capacity Greatly Affected by Geology: The horizontal bearing capacity of the foundation is closely related to soil compaction. In areas where the shallow soil layer is too loose, the bearing capacity will be significantly reduced, making it unsuitable for such geological conditions.

Corrosion Resistance Challenges: Although hot-dip galvanizing is adopted, in highly corrosive environments such as coastal areas with high salt spray, corrosion resistance still faces challenges, requiring additional anti-corrosion measures, which increases costs and maintenance work.

Simple Construction: No specialized construction machinery is required, the construction process is easy to master, and ordinary construction workers can operate after simple training. It is highly feasible for small projects or areas with limited construction conditions.

Little Damage to the Ground: In temporary land use or areas with high requirements for ground integrity, such as "PV + agriculture" projects, it will not damage cultivated land and can be disassembled and moved at any time, having little impact on the original use function of the land.

Good Stability: Through reasonable design of the size and weight of the concrete blocks, it can provide stable support for PV brackets. In plain areas with low wind force, it can effectively ensure the stable operation of the PV system.

Limited Wind Resistance: Compared with screw piles and directly inserted columns, its wind resistance is relatively weak. When used in areas with strong wind, the weight or quantity of concrete blocks needs to be increased, leading to rising costs.

Inconvenient Transportation: Concrete blocks are large in volume and weight, requiring high standards for vehicles and roads during transportation, increasing transportation difficulty and cost. This problem is more prominent in remote areas with inconvenient transportation.

Large Space Occupation: It requires a certain placement area. For projects with tight land resources, it may affect the layout and installation quantity of PV modules, reducing land utilization.

Economical Cost: Compared with screw pile brackets, it reduces the cost of specialized machinery construction and complex material processing; compared with concrete block brackets, it saves a large amount of cement materials, resulting in a relatively low overall cost, which is attractive in cost-sensitive projects.

Relatively Fast Construction Speed: Compared with the pouring and curing time of concrete block brackets, the construction speed of directly inserted column brackets is significantly faster, enabling the completion of foundation construction in a shorter time and entering the PV module installation stage.

Good Bearing Performance: Under suitable geological conditions, it can provide reliable vertical and horizontal bearing capacity, effectively supporting PV brackets and modules, and ensuring the stable operation of the PV system.

High Requirements for Geology: It requires the soil layer to have a certain degree of compaction and stability, and is not suitable for soft soil layers such as loose sandy soil and mucky soil. Construction in rocky or hard soil layers is difficult or even impossible.

Difficult Post-Adjustment: After the columns are driven into the ground, their position and angle are difficult to adjust. If deviations occur during construction, it may affect the installation of PV modules and the overall power generation efficiency.

Durability Issues: On-site cast concrete piles may be affected by groundwater erosion, freeze-thaw cycles and other factors during long-term use, requiring corresponding protective measures.