No rooftop space to pursue your clean energy transition goals ? Worry not ! ground mount solar can be a viable option for you. 

Industries, renowned for their energy-intensive operations, are consistently exploring avenues to cut costs and enhance sustainability. Among the viable solutions, ground-mount solar installations have emerged as a prominent option, providing substantial advantages to industries.

This blog post will delve into the things you should consider while opting for a ground mount solar system.

Distinguishing the scope of  Rooftop and Ground Mount Solar Power Plants

As the names suggest, Rooftop and Ground-Mount systems primarily differ in their installation terrain.

Rooftop solar power plants enjoy popularity across industrial, commercial, residential, and institutional segments, capitalizing on unused roof space for solar deployment. They bring additional advantages such as net-metering benefits in almost every state.

Nevertheless, for energy-intensive consumers, roof space might hinder efficient meeting of daily energy demands. Ground-mounted solar addresses this limitation, enabling consumers to optimize energy generation.

Technologies available for ground mount systems

Ground-Mount Solar Power Plants offer a distinct set of benefits of technologies and policies, positioning them as an attractive investment for energy-intensive businesses.

Module Technologies

Module technologies in the market, including monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and bi-facial modules, allow tailored solutions based on technical and commercial needs.

• Polycrystalline Modules: Deliver a cost-effective solution for solar adoption. Available in sizes ranging from 250 W to 400 W, they offer module-level efficiency of 16-18%.
• Monocrystalline Modules: Represent superior technology with module-level efficiencies up to 23%. These modules also come in higher capacities of 300 W-700 W, saving installation space and generating additional energy.
• Bi-Facial Modules: Harness energy from both sides, increasing total generation with limited space. Ideal for ground-mount solutions due to elevated positioning and ample reflected light.

Structure Technology

Installing ground-mount solar power plants requires additional civil structures, presenting challenges but also advantages.

• Precise Tilt: Tailored structures enable adjustable tilt and angle to optimize plant performance.
• Tracker Installation: Ground-mount structures can accommodate single-axis and multi-axis trackers, adjusting module tilt to maximize output. Tracking systems can boost energy production by up to 40% in specific conditions.
• Multiple Portrait Structures: Stacking panels in multiple arrays can maximize capacity from available land.

Inverter Technologies

Ground mount solar can adopt different inverter technologies based on the scale and technical requirements.

• Central Inverters: Efficiently converts DC to AC in larger capacities, a cost effective solution  for MW-scale solar power plants.
• String Inverters: Convert DC to AC in lower capacities, adaptable to ground-mount installations along with rooftop setups. Provides more string level control and lower downtimes during faults.

Maintenance

A major point to consider in the adoption of ground mounted systems is its maintenance. Ground mount systems come with its own set of maintenance nuances. 

Pros

• Accessibility: Easy monitoring and daily maintenance due to ground-level placement.
• Individual components are easy to monitor and replace in case of malfunction due to its form factor.

Cons

• Vulnerability: Prone to vandalism, requiring proper security measures.
• Soiling: Susceptible to higher soiling rates, necessitating regular cleaning.

Adoption Schemes

Captive Solar Projects

In a captive solar project, commonly opted in ground-mounted projects, the 100% of energy will be delivered to the developer for their use. The plant can be onsite or offsite for this to work. 

Group Captive Solar Projects

In a group captive solar project, a pool of consumers can invest in the project and share the energy resource. 

Open Access scheme

Open Access Scheme helps to install an offsite solar power plant and transport the energy generated to the consumers location through the grid. 

Is a Ground-Mount Solution Right for You?

If high energy consumption or limited roof space is a concern, ground-mount solar might be the ideal solution. Open access schemes allow installation off-site, and opportunities for captive and group captive adoption emerge.

Opt for a detailed conversation with U-Solar’s expert team to understand whether Ground Mount Solar would be a good fit for your energy needs.