Ground Mount

Ground mount installations secure solar panels on a freestanding structure built at ground level, using posts driven into the ground or set in concrete footings with cross-rails and panel mounting hardware above. Ground mounts offer advantages over roof systems when roof conditions are unsuitable, when optimal panel orientation differs from roof geometry, or when maximum production per panel is the priority.

The primary advantages of ground-mounted solar include optimal tilt angle and azimuth (panels can be oriented and tilted for maximum production regardless of building orientation), easy access for maintenance, cleaning, and snow removal, no roof penetrations or waterproofing concerns, and better airflow behind panels for improved cooling and efficiency.

Ground-mount systems come in two main types: fixed-tilt and tracker. Fixed-tilt mounts hold panels at a static angle — typically equal to the site's latitude for year-round optimization or adjusted slightly for seasonal bias. Tracker mounts follow the sun across the sky, increasing daily production by 15-25% over fixed-tilt at the expense of higher hardware cost and mechanical complexity.

The primary drawbacks of ground mounting are cost and space. Ground mounts require dedicated land area, structural posts or piers, additional materials, and typically more labor than roof installations. Trenching for underground conduit between the array and building adds further expense. Overall, ground-mount systems cost 10-30% more per watt than roof-mounted systems.

Ground-mounted systems are ideal for properties with large yards, farms, or unused land; roofs that are shaded, structurally weak, or facing the wrong direction; bifacial panels that benefit from ground-reflected light; and larger systems where roof space is insufficient for the desired capacity.