RBI Solar reports a trend toward steel structures on ground mounted arrays. The strength of steel allows for more cost effective structures that meet the demands of challenging geographic areas with high wind and snow loads, where more arrays are being sited. RBI Solar’s ground mount system (GM-I) exclusively uses steel components. The ground-mount market has also seen growth in the demand for ground mounted PV arrays on landfills and brownfields.
While there are all sorts of differentiators in the PV racking space, RBI Solar focuses on creating custom solutions for each project.
“RBI Solar’s capabilities also extend into the installation portion of projects,” says specialist James Cormican. “Multiple crews and a fleet of post-driving machines allow RBI Solar to meet the demands of shorter construction schedules.”
Beyond the beams, and as in the other racking and mounting spaces, the solar industry has seen a movement toward integrated grounding. Customers demand simplicity of installation. Racking vendors are providing their own grounding strips, teethed clips, and other grounding methods so the customer does not need to buy third-party grounding devices. This saves customers money and, often, installation time as well.
Photo courtesy of TerraSmart
GameChange Racking, for instance, provides UL-467 listed grounding strips for all of its systems, and is soon introducing UL-listed panel mounting clips with integrated teeth to eliminate grounding strips altogether.
There has also been a movement toward integrated wire management, including wire management trays on purlins, punched holes for wire ties and clips, as well as integrated methods for roof systems to accommodate north-south wire runs. More integrated wire management features from racking vendors means fewer third-party attachments and products for wire management, saving time and money for installers and simplifying logistics.
Providing integrated wire management, GameChange Racking’s G90 galvanized steel panel mounting purlins include full-length wire management trays for wires to reside. Holes are punched every two feet for ties. GameChange’s aluminum panel mounting rails feature deep trays where wires are securely tucked in and tied every 40 inches, or where required by code.
As far as codes and standards go, changes in or adoption of documents such as 2012 IBC and IFC, 2014 NEC, UL1703 and UL2703 will all have significant effects on system design, product design and product testing.
“Racking manufacturers will be challenged to continue to adapt and get products evaluated to new standards required by jurisdictions across the country,” Cormican says.
To set themselves apart, ground-mount suppliers must focus on two areas, according to Andrew Barron Worden, founder and CEO of GameChange Racking: install speed and pricing. Here is what he says about each:
Install speed: “Labor is now the biggest single cost concern of many installers, especially where union or licensed electrician labor is required such as in the northeast and other areas. Racking companies must innovate to add flexibility to designs and to reduce part counts to help installers reduce labor costs.”
Pricing: “2013 was the first year in which pricing was actually published and shown at trade shows. Installers and developers are demanding better pricing as they are being squeezed by lower FiTs and SRECs. Panel and inverter companies have reduced pricing dramatically and racking companies have now followed suit.”