Issues, challenges, and current lacunas in design, and installation of ground mounted solar PV module mounting structure (MMS)

Abstract

Current energy systems are the outcome of constrained fossil fuels. The energy systems must be transformed and need to be shifted on the maximum penetration of the renewable. Solar photovoltaic (PV) power generation is one of the most promising sources in this regard. This underutilized resource potential needs to be tapped. The Levelized Cost of energy from Solar PV is decreasing nowadays. Still, more efforts are necessary to curtail this cost. The overall efficiency, the life of the power plant, and its reliability in the power supply are mostly dependent on the panel support structure. So, the utmost care should be taken while designing the support structure for these power plants. Depending upon the capacity of these power plants, they are spread over large areas. This paper contributes to the current issues and challenges faced by the support structure designer for the ground-mounted solar PV module mounting structure (MMS). An attempt has been made to found out the exact design lacunas based on Indian code IS:801 and Euro code 1993-1-3 for cold form structures. The current failure patterns of solar module mounting structures (MMS) are analyzed and the design deficiencies related to tilting, stability, foundation, geotechnical issues, tightening clamps, dynamic effects are discussed in detail for the ground-mounted solar PV MMS.