Ground Mounted Solar -

Ground Mounted Solar

Why Ground Mounted Solar Panel System?

A ground-mounted solar power system is just what it sounds like - a system of solar panels that are mounted on the ground on your property, rather than on the roof of your house.

Depending on your choice of racking system, the solar panels will be positioned a few inches to several feet above the ground.

Module-level power electronics, required for rapid shutdown, will be attached to the panels, but other system components can be located some distance away, so you can put temperature-sensitive equipment like string inverters and solar batteries in your garage.

With ground-mounted installations, you have the flexibility to work with solar panels of any size, including large ‘commercial’ modules featuring 72 cells (or 144 half-cells) or more, whereas rooftop systems are typically restricted to 60-cell panels which are smaller and lighter.

Ground-mounted solar panels can be installed anywhere with good sun exposure and sufficient amounts of open space – a minimum of 350 square feet is usually required.

Ground-mounted solar panels are also known as backyard solar panels, free-standing solar panels, and ground-mount PV systems.

What are the different types of ground-mount solar installations?

Standard ground mount

Standard or traditional ground mounts use multiple small anchors to support a racking table for the solar panels. Many anchor types can be used, including concrete piers (most common), driven piers, helical piles, and concrete ballasts. The best anchoring method for you will depend on your ground conditions.

Standard ground mount systems typically hold the solar array in a fixed position, although options for manual adjustment are gaining popularity.

The standard ground-mount system is the easiest and most cost-effective solution for a ground install, and also the most popular.

Pole Mount

To build a pole-mount solar system, you’ll dig a single deep hole in the ground. It’ll hold a large pole, upon which you’ll connect your rails and mount your solar panels.

Pole-mount systems offer greater clearance from the ground, which is useful in avoiding foliage or other ground obstructions. We’ve even seen animals grazing and taking shelter from the sun underneath them!

Another advantage of pole mounts is that they can easily incorporate a single-axis or dual-axis tracking system; these enable the panels to follow the sun over the course of the day and thus produce more energy.

On the flip side, pole mounts with tracking systems have a higher cost per watt, so it’s usually more cost-effective to buy a standard ground-mount array featuring a greater number of panels.

Ready to make a smooth and easy switch to solar?