Solar panel mounting systems are one of the largest areas of innovation in the world of solar. Many people may think that it is just a solar panel mounting system, but it is probably the most competitive product in the Australian solar market. The work of a solar panel mounting system is to secure the solar panels to the roof or the ground.
Compare Solar Quotes works with all types of solar products available in the Australian solar market. In this article, we will talk about everything you need to know about solar panel mounting systems.
A solar panel mounting system is an integral part of the solar power system installation process. The properly installed solar panel mounting system will provide the right amount of structural support a solar panel will need to stay fixed on the roof. A solar mounting system protects the solar panels from the damage caused by wind and other potential weather risks.
Solar panels often need to be tilted at a certain angle facing north to make sure that they are receiving the proper amount of sunlight to work at their maximum efficiency. A solar panel mounting system sets the proper orientation and elevation of a solar power system to maximise the performance of the solar panels. A good solar panel mounting system must be easy to install and made from top quality materials like aluminium and stainless steel.
What are the different types of Solar Panel Mounting Systems?
There are various types of solar panel mounting systems available in the Australian solar market. The three primary solar panel mounting systems are rooftop, ground mount, and parking canopy.
Roof Mounting Systems:
Empty space on the roof is often a great place for installing solar panels. Solar installers assess the rooftops before installing the solar power systems. The installers evaluate the age of the existing roof, location, weather conditions, shading, and the slope of the roof.
Ground Mounting Systems:
In a ground mounted solar panel mounting system, the panels are mounted on the ground with the posts driven into the soil. The ground mounting system is easy to install as these are installed in open land. However, ground mounted solar panels require more racking than roof mounted solar panels.
Ground mounted solar panels typically produce more electricity than roof mounted solar panels as they are installed at a more optical tilted angle. The ground mounted solar panels use a metal frame to keep the solar panels still at a fixed angle in order to get the maximum solar energy.
Parking Solar Canopy:
A solar parking canopy, also commonly known as a solar car park, is an elevated structure where solar panels are installed in overhead places like parking lots and many other paved areas. Parking is a solar canopy is typically used by businesses or other commercial solar projects.
Cars can park beneath the solar parking canopy and take advantage of the shaded areas. The majority of the solar parking canopies come with charging stations so that people can charge their electric vehicles by using the energy generated by the solar panels on the car park. Solar canopies often educate and aware people of solar energy and its benefits as solar canopies provide visibility of the solar panels and user-friendly parking experiences.
Which is the most common type of solar panel mounting system?
Roof mounted solar panel is the most common type of solar panel mounting system in Australian households. The main reason behind this choice is the cost of the roof mounting system. Roof mounted systems are typically a lot more affordable than ground mounted systems.
The majority of homes in Australia has a sloped roof. Thus, solar installers have to install the solar panels on an inclined surface. In order to install solar panels on a sloped roof safely, manufacturers offer a few options. These are:
1. Railed Mounting System:
The railed mounting system is the most common way of mounting solar panels on a roof. A set of rails is attached to the roof, and each solar panel is then attached to the rails with the help of clamps. Screws and bolts secure the rails to the roof.
2. Rail-less Mounting System:
In a rail-less mounting system, the installers mount the solar panels by directly using screws and bolts to secure the solar panels to the roof. This decreases the cost of manufacturing and shipping and causes the installation to be completed faster. The installer can install the solar panels in any way they choose to install panels because the panels are not as restricted to the roof position as they would be in the railed mounting system.
3. Shared-rail Mounting System:
A shared-rail mounting system works in the same way as a railed mounting system. But the only difference is the shared-rail mounting system use only three rails for two rows of solar panels, while a railed mounting system uses four rails to mount two rows of solar panels. The cost and time required to install the solar panels decreases due to the use of the shared-rail mounting system as a lesser number of rails and clamps are needed.
4. Flat Roof:
Flat roof solar panels are often seen on commercial solar projects and utility buildings. There are also a lot of houses with flat roofs, and these houses require a different installation approach than the sloped roofs. The Flat Roof Ballasted Racking System is the main term that is used for mounting solar panels on a flat roof.
This mounting system consists of a structure with a set of ballasted blocks that go to the bottom of the panels and act as a support to the panels while attaching the panels and the mounting system with the help of clips and clamps.
Conclusion:
Solar panel mounting systems are an essential part of a solar power system installation as these prevent the solar panels from getting damaged by wind and other extreme weather conditions. The mounting systems also allow the solar panels to generate more electricity as the solar panels are mounted at an angle that helps them to absorb the maximum sunlight.
