Page 83 - Energize October 2022

TECHNICAL

Horizontal or low tilt ground mounting Advantages of this method are claimed to be:
One of the problems facing horizontal solar arrays is the • No foundations or mounting posts are required
mounting system. Tilted arrays are mounted close to the ground • Lower wind speeds and hence lower wind loads and cyclic
and spacing between arrays allows access to the underside of the wind loading
array, where cabling and junction boxes are allocated, and to the • Less thermal cycling due to thermal inertia of the ground
array for surface cleaning. This problem has been overcome by • Panels are easily accessible for cleaning
allocating narrow spaced alleys between special ground mount • Limited anchor points
systems as shown in Figure 9.
Panels can be cleaned by a specially designed robot.

Figure 9: Example of horizontal mount solar PV system (Jurchen Technology) Figure 11: A panel cleaning robot (Erthos)

Horizontal ground mount systems are simpler than tilted panel Ballasted ground mount
ground mount systems. Improvement in factors such as wind A further development in ground mounting of panels is the use
resistance, visibility, temperatures and mechanical vibration are of roof mount type ballasts, placed directly on the ground. This
mentioned. system introduces a slight tilt angle but retains the benefits of
low or zero row spacing and near independence of orientation.
Direct ground mounting This system requires no foundations as the ballasts are placed
One company in this market takes the horizontal mounting directly on the ground. Most flat roof ballast mounting systems
method to the extreme and does not use a raised mounting can be used for direct to ground mounting.
system at all but mounts the panels directly on the ground, as Direct ground mount with ballasted systems is proving beneficial
shown in Figure 10. in areas with difficult ground conditions such as old landfills.

Figure 10: Direct ground horizontal mounting system (Erthos)

Figure 12: Ballasted low tilt direct ground mount system (Solar mounts)

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