Ground-mount demand outpacing building-mount in PV market

Ground-mount installations have outpaced building-mount installations in the US PV market, according to research firm NPD Solarbuzz.

A key factor behind the growth of the ground-mount segment is the continued development of large-scale utility projects. Recent data in the US Deal Tracker highlight a new trend where projects previously designed as building-mount have shifted to ground-mounted carport structures. The continued attractiveness of these projects is expected to result in strong growth in the ground-mount segment through the rest of 2014.

However, risks remain in the US market, particularly for the ground-mount segment. One of the main risks is increased installed-system-prices (ISPs) due to tariffs imposed on Chinese modules. Many of the large-scale ground-mount projects have bid PPA contracts at very aggressive rates, and are particularly susceptible to price pressure.