Galvanised steel? Zinc-aluminium-magnesium? Aluminium alloy? How to choose the material of PV bracket?

The quest for sustainable energy has led to a surge in solar power installations. A critical component of these installations is the mounting system, which supports the photovoltaic panels. Galvanised steel is a popular choice for such systems due to its durability and cost-effectiveness.

 Galvanized steel solar bracket

Applications of galvanised steel photovoltaic mounting systems:

Residential roof mounting: for domestic users, providing a stable support structure.

Commercial and industrial rooftops: for heavier loads and large area installations.

Ground mounted systems: Suitable for open areas, easy to maintain and clean.

Combined agricultural and pastoral projects: integrated with agricultural structures for dual use of land.

Advantages of galvanised steel PV mounting systems:

Corrosion resistance: the galvanised coating provides additional protection against environmental factors.

Strength and durability: the high strength of the steel material ensures long-term stability.

Cost-effective: Galvanised steel offers low production and maintenance costs compared to other materials.

Easy to install: Standardised components simplify the installation process.

Customisability: Custom designs can be created to suit different installation requirements.

Limitations of galvanised steel PV mounting systems:

Weight: Compared to materials such as aluminium alloys, galvanised steel is heavier and may require a stronger foundation.

Maintenance requirements: Despite the protection offered by galvanisation, long-term exposure to harsh environments may still require maintenance.

Environmental impact: Carbon emissions are an issue in the production of steel.

Thermal Expansion: Metals expand thermally in response to temperature changes and need to be considered in design.

Recycling issues: the recycling process for steel can be more complex than for some recyclable materials.

zinc-aluminium-magnesium solar bracket

Benefits:

High corrosion resistance: Zinc-aluminium-magnesium coated steel sheet has high corrosion resistance, due to the presence of magnesium (Mg) element, which promotes the formation of a stable and dense protective film, significantly improving the corrosion resistance.

Notch protection: The alloying elements of the zinc-aluminium-magnesium coating form a protective film in the atmospheric corrosive environment, which covers the notch location and improves the notch corrosion resistance.

Light weight and high strength: Zinc-aluminium-magnesium alloy has low density and high strength, which makes the bracket reduce weight while maintaining the load bearing capacity and easy to install.

Green and environmental protection: as a recyclable metal material, zinc-aluminium-magnesium alloy meets the requirements of environmental protection and sustainable development, with low energy consumption and low waste in the production process.

Easy to press: the zinc-aluminium-magnesium coating has a low coefficient of friction and remains stable over many rubbing cycles, demonstrating excellent wear resistance.

Increased warranty: Zinc-Aluminium-Magnesium products offer a warranty of more than 30 years, which meets the requirements of the photovoltaic industry of more than 25 years.

The downside:

Higher costs: Zinc-aluminium-magnesium alloy PV mounts are relatively expensive to produce, resulting in a higher selling price than traditional steel mounts, which may limit their widespread use.

Marketing Challenges: Due to cost issues, some cost-sensitive PV projects may not choose zinc-aluminium-magnesium alloy mounts, affecting marketing.

Inconsistent industry standards: Zn-Aluminium-Magnesium alloy PV mounts are a relatively new product segment, and product quality and performance standards in the market are not yet fully unified, resulting in uneven quality.

Processing difficulty: Zinc-aluminium-magnesium alloy is relatively difficult to process, which may increase the complexity and cost of the production process .