When installing photovoltaic (PV) mounts, attention must be paid to the impact of weather conditions.

PV mounts not only support the PV modules but are also connected to the pile foundations. As the load-bearing structure for the main power-generating components of a PV power station, the importance of mounts is self-evident. They are like the skeleton of the human body—only with healthy bones can the long-term stable operation of a PV power station be ensured. The choice of mounts directly affects the operational safety, damage rate, and construction investment of PV modules. Selecting appropriate PV mounts can not only reduce project costs but also lower later-stage maintenance expenses.

So, what should be considered when designing mounts?

1. Small mounts, significant responsibility. Although mounts account for a small proportion of the entire PV system (only 5%–10%), they bear the load of the entire power station. Once mounts are damaged, they can disrupt the normal operation of the entire system and even cause permanent damage to the power station. Excellent design undoubtedly provides an extra layer of protection for the power station.

2. There are significant differences in wind and snow loads across various regions. At the same time, the design of mounts needs to be tailored to the actual conditions on-site, involving many considerations during the design process. The design and manufacturing of mounts are both simple and complex. The manufacturing of mounts is among the simplest in steel structure fabrication, requiring only forming, punching, and simple welding—far simpler compared to steel structure workshops. However, mount design is complex. Since mounts are used outdoors and distributed across various locations nationwide, application scenarios vary significantly, requiring customized designs based on site-specific conditions.

3. The quality of PV mount manufacturers varies widely, making it difficult to ensure product reliability. The nature of PV mount manufacturing determines that the entry barrier for manufacturers is low—a few basic pieces of equipment can meet the processing requirements for mounts. However, ensuring mount quality is challenging. Many companies focus only on short-term profits when producing mounts, without considering the 25-year guarantee. How can products from such short-term profit-driven enterprises ensure a 25-year service life? A 25-year service life guarantee requires high-quality mounts as a prerequisite.

4. At the same time, professional operation and maintenance are the foundation for ensuring a 25-year service life for PV power stations. The construction phase of a PV power station lasts only a few months, while the subsequent more than 20 years of operation rely on maintenance. In many regions, maintenance involves snow removal, and only professional snow removal methods can ensure the 25-year service life of PV mounts. During snow removal, it is necessary to avoid excessive local loads. For example, snow should not be swept from one side to the other or from the middle of a single array to both ends, requiring secondary removal. Short-term overloads on mounts can cause them to collapse, thereby affecting the power generation of the entire PV power station.

5. Additionally, the design of PV mounts must consider ease of installation. Reasonable PV mount design can improve installation efficiency by 10%–30%.

6. The design of PV mounts must also consider cost optimization.