Much of the harnessed solar power that’s part of the expansion of renewable energy in the US comes from big solar farms composed of rows and rows of solar panels oriented to capture the most sun possible. Some of it comes from people installing solar panels (usually on their roofs) to generate their own energy and save some money. Roughly 1 gigawatt of residential solar power is installed every three months (that’s about 2.5 million solar panels).
You may have considered rooftop solar for your own home, only to find out that your roof is too shaded, faces away from the sun or is not suited to solar panels for another reason. Ground-mounted solar panels are an alternative that doesn’t rely on your roof and can produce more energy, all while letting you take advantage of the federal tax credit, local tax incentives and solar power’s long-term savings. Here’s what you need to know.
What is a ground-mounted solar panel?
Put simply, it is what it sounds like: solar panels mounted closer to the ground than a typical roof mounting. They’re generally mounted either to posts or racks that are anchored to the ground. You typically won’t find panels literally on the ground, but rather tilted at an angle to face the sun and at least a few feet above the surface to allow for air to flow around them and water underneath.
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There’s more to it than that, though that’s the gist. Ground-mounted solar panels have some advantages over rooftop panels, but come up short elsewhere.
Standard ground-mounted solar panels
Most standard ground-mounted solar arrays involve metal framing that is driven into or secured to the ground, typically with cement. There are any number of configurations that can be achieved using various racking and mounting systems.
Standard mounting is a great option when access to the panels is a priority. This can be useful in locations that receive a lot of snow, or in situations where servicing, adjusting or replacing the panels is anticipated.
Ground mounting is also often selected simply because rooftop mounting isn’t an option for some reason. It’s possible but very unusual to install tracking systems on standard ground mounts due to the degrees of freedom required to rotate the panels to track the sun as it moves across the sky daily, and higher and lower during the course of a year. That said, racking systems can allow for some basic seasonal adjustments in tilt.
Are ground-mounted solar panels cheaper?
The actual panels cost the same as any other application, but additional costs (and benefits) can come from the structures and infrastructure required for ground mounting. According to one estimate, the average eight-kilowatt rooftop installation was $2.99 per watt. That’s without the additional costs of trenching, wire and mounting structure.
Can you DIY install ground-mounted solar panels?
Can you use ground-mounted solar panels off-grid?
