With the popularity of solar panels, more people want to get on board with installing solar energy systems. However, many homes have complex roof structures that do not lend themselves to the installation of solar arrays that take up a large area. Then, they may consider ground mounted solar systems. However, before doing so, you need to consider 5 key questions about installing a ground-mounted solar system.

1. What type of ground-mounted solar system to install?

1.1 Standard Solar System. A standard solar system is what we often see as a ground mounted solar system. It is much more common and is usually supported by metal poles on which brackets are installed to hold the solar panels.

One of its distinguishing features is that it is fixed and cannot be moved, and like most roof-mounted solar systems, the panels can only be installed in one direction. In most cases installing solar panels facing south will absorb more sunlight.

1.2 Pole Tracking System. It is different from standard solar system and has one more tracking system than standard solar system. Make pole tracking solar system can track the sun’s trajectory in all directions to get the most solar energy.

However, installing a pole tracking solar system is more complicated, so it will cost more and it requires more maintenance and protection. Frequently rotating solar panels make pole solar panels less stable and more likely to be dangerous compared to standard solar panels.

2. Does it cost more to install a solar system on the ground?

2.1 If you have a flat roof structure, then installing a ground mounted solar system will cost about the same as installing rooftop solar. They both require concrete piles to create a good foundation for installing solar panels. For a pitched roof, however, no concrete piles are used. All that is required is the installation of brackets to hold the solar panels on the triangular roof. This reduces the cost of installing a solar system compared to ground and flat roofs.

2.2 Ground-mounted solar panels are more susceptible to damage. When installing a solar system, the structural design and durability need to be taken into account, and a fence is usually placed around the solar panels to prevent some animals from approaching the panels, which can easily cause damage, which will increase the installation cost. However, for places where no small animals are present, you can choose not to install a fence. Ground-mounted solar systems need to be frequently cleaned of weeds growing under the solar panels to prevent shading the solar panels and affecting their efficiency.

2.3 Compared with roof-mounted solar systems, ground-mounted solar systems are more convenient in terms of maintenance and installation. It does not require maintenance and installation on high and dangerous roofs, which helps to reduce the cost of maintenance and installation of solar systems.

2.4 Roof mounted solar panels also have disadvantages. If the roof is not load-bearing enough, you will also need to reinforce the roof or replace it, or you don’t have the south-facing roof area to install solar panels, which will reduce the amount of energy converted by the solar system. In that case, the cost of installing a rooftop solar system is not necessarily lower than the cost of installing solar panels on the ground.

3. Do you have an open space suitable for installing a ground-mounted solar system?

The area of solar panels is not small, and we set aside enough open space needed to install a solar system. Not only the area of the solar panels, but also some land area needs to be set aside for future expansion or modification.

The suitability of the site also needs to be considered when installing. You can select a suitable site for installing a solar system by evaluating the available space, soil conditions, obstacle shading, and other factors. When installing a ground-mounted solar system, homeowners often install fences, etc. around it, which may block the sunlight received by the solar panels, so this factor should be taken into consideration so that a suitable installation site can be selected, which will likewise expand the site required for the solar panels.

4. Does the efficiency of ground mounted solar panels increase?

The efficiency of solar panels is linked to the temperature of the system in which they are installed. For a house with a triangular roof, the temperature of the roof tends to be very high during the hot summer months, and the air temperature between the roof and the solar panels also increases, reducing the efficiency of the solar panels. This can be better avoided with ground mounted solar panels and flat roof mounted solar panels. Solar panels installed this way tend to be some distance away from the ground or the roof, allowing air to circulate between the solar panels and the ground, rather than generating hot air that makes the solar panels less efficient at generating electricity.

5. Is it necessary to survey the site where the ground-mounted solar system will be installed before installation?

It is necessary. The survey of a solar PV site is a key factor in the completion of a solar system build. It is related to the power generation efficiency of that solar system, site selection as well as risk assessment, reduction of environmental impact and long-term stable operation of the solar system. Through the survey, the installation company can adopt some preventive and control measures and improvement suggestions, which not only can reduce the risk of installing ground-mounted solar systems, but also can protect the ecological environment. Without careful survey, it is possible that the solar system will be removed for some reasons.

6. Conclusion:

The above 5 considerations are the issues we need to prioritize when building a ground-mounted solar system. By considering these issues together, we can choose the right solar installation system and installation site for us. Although it may cost more than a roof-mounted solar system during the upfront installation, it is easier to maintain as well as having more design options that are not limited by the structure of the roof. It also pays for itself over time in a shorter period of time.