When most people think of residential solar, their mind immediately goes to a rooftop completely covered in solar panels. But rooftop solar power isn’t the only option. Ground-mounted solar panels are exactly what they sound like, solar panels installed on a frame, mount, or other structure that sits on the ground rather than on the roof of a building.
Sure, rooftop solar panels stay out of the way, which is nice if you have limited backyard space, but that also means they’re difficult to reach and locked into your roof’s slope and direction. On the other hand, ground mount solar panels can be positioned for optimal sunlight exposure, adjusted throughout the year, and they’re way easier to maintain.
On top of that, ground-mounted solar systems are available in various styles and at different price points. From simple DIY setups and fixed-angle racks that you can pick up on Amazon to advanced tracking systems that automatically adjust the attached panels to follow the sun, there’s lots of flexibility if you go with a ground-mounted solar array.
Whether you’re installing a small backyard backup power system or powering an off-grid homestead, a ground-mount solar array can be a money-saving game-changer. This guide will explain how!
It’s true, rooftop mounted solar panels tend to be the most popular option in your average residential neighborhood. Drive around any suburb and you’ll probably spot a few houses that have solar panels on their rooftops. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re superior to ground mounted solar panels.
For starters, most door-to-door solar installers focus on roof mounted solar panels because they’re more complicated to install, which means they can charge homeowners more to install them. We actually covered this in our breakdown of the top four solar mistakes you should avoid.
And while it may be true that rooftop solar panels save backyard space, having your solar panels off the ground and out of the way also comes at a cost.
So, let’s explore the advantages that ground mounted solar PV systems offer, and why we think they should be worth considering.
One of the biggest perks of a ground-mount solar panel rack is how much easier they make it to clean your panels. If you’ve ever tried getting up on a roof to wash off dust, bird crap, pollen, and other debris, you know it’s not exactly a fun (or safe) way to spend your day off.
With a solar panel ground mounting kit, you can just walk up with a hose or soft brush and keep your panels performing at their best without the hassle of climbing a ladder. Not only is it easy to clean solar panels that are on ground mounts, cleaning can increase their productivity and overall power production. Clean panels = more free electricity.
Plus, if you’re like us and you live in a climate that gets a lot of snow, just imagine how dangerous and annoying it would be having to climb a ladder in the middle of the winter to brush snow off your solar panels. Realistically, you’re not going to do it every time it snows, which also means your solar panels are not producing power for big chunks of the year.
On the other hand, if you have a ground-mount solar array, you can just brush the snow off your solar panels with a broom while you hold a coffee in your other hand. Basically, it’s just as easy as clearing your windscreen. Given that solar panels still produce free electricity in the winter when they’re not covered in snow, why would you risk losing out on all of that energy?
Beyond snow, even just the typical dirt and debris that lands on a rooftop can significantly reduce a panel’s efficiency. You don’t have to be out there scrubbing your solar panels every single day, but regular cleaning can help ensure that you’re getting the most out of your system.
The reality is a lot of homeowners end up neglecting maintenance with their rooftop panels simply because it’s too difficult or risky to deal with. A ground mount solar mounting setup removes that obstacle completely.
When you go with roof-mounted solar panels, they’re stuck at whatever angle they were installed on, which is usually just the angle of your roof itself. This isn’t always ideal for maximizing sunlight absorption throughout the year.
On the other hand, if you go with a mounting structure for solar panels that sits on or just above the ground, you have the option to adjust your panel angles throughout the year.
In the summer, you can tilt them to a lower angle to capture more of that overhead sunlight, then in the winter, you could go with a steeper angle that would help capture more of that low-horizon sun.
Even with just a 15° angle adjustment between the summer and winter months, you can increase your solar production by as much as 20%. With how many ground mounts enable tool-free solar panel tilt adjustments, it makes it incredibly easy to get the most out of your solar investment.
Basically, the flexibility you get with ground-mounted solar systems means that you can squeeze out every bit of efficiency out of your solar panels, increasing energy production over the lifespan of your solar equipment. Take a look at this Maple Leaf Power Goose Mount, which is cheap, easy to install, and designed for simple angle adjustments.
And, while we still think the technology isn’t quite there for residential setups, there are even advanced ground-mounted solar systems that feature smart tracking technology that automatically moves the panels to follow the sun throughout the day, which maximizes output without the need for manual adjustments.
EcoFlow’s Solar Tracker is probably the best example of this, and while it’s pretty cool, it’s also way overpriced for the benefits it offers. Still, it’s a good sign of what’s to come for ground-mounted setups.
The simple truth is that not every roof is solar-friendly. Some have too much overhanging shade, not enough sun-facing space, too steep of an angle, or they just have structural issues that make installing panels a challenge.
Ground mount solar racks eliminate those problems entirely. You’re free to position your solar panels wherever they’ll get the most sunlight, or wherever is the most convenient place for you. You also don’t have to worry about damaging or drilling into your roof or dealing with weight limitations.
For homeowners who plan to expand their solar system in the future, a solar power ground-mount setup also offers more flexibility. You can add more panels without worrying about running out of roof space, needing to hire expensive installers, or needing to reinforce any part of your roof to handle the extra weight.
If you end up deciding to move, you can also just pack up your solar panels and solar mount. Rather than being forced to leave the system behind, you have the option to easily take all of your solar equipment with you.
Solar panels work more efficiently when they have a cooler surface temperature. It may sound surprising, but this is actually why solar panels can function better in the winter than during the summer months (keep in mind this is only during daylight hours, and there are more hours of sunlight during the summer than the winter).
Since rooftop panels are mounted just above your roof shingles, heat can build up from underneath the panels, increasing their temperature and reducing their efficiency. On the other hand, a ground-mount solar array gets better airflow, helping the panels stay cooler so they can produce more power.
While this isn’t going to make a major difference everywhere, in hot climates, like Arizona and Florida, the ground clearance and airflow you get with a ground mount can noticeably increase your total energy output.
Plus, if you go with bifacial solar panels, you can even get a power boost from reflected sunlight coming in from behind the panels. Since rooftop solar panels don’t have enough clearance to benefit from that reflected sunlight, you don’t get the same benefit from a bifacial solar panel setup.
In other words, you could potentially generate more electricity compared to an identical system mounted on a roof just by opting for solar panel ground mounts.
Cost is always going to be one of the biggest factors when you’re talking about any aspect of building out a solar setup. Traditionally, rooftop solar tended to be slightly cheaper upfront because the roof itself serves as the mounting system for solar panels; however, that is changing quickly.
Today, ground mount solar is actually turning out to be more cost-effective in the long run for a lot of homeowners. Here are just a few of the reasons why:
While it’s true that rooftop solar setups use your existing roof as a base for the solar panels, which can reduce material costs, most people still need to hire professionals to do the work for them.
In contrast, there are now plenty of low-cost DIY solar panel ground mounts that you can set up yourself, like the $100 Eco-Worthy Adjustable Mount. Any sort of pre-built mount that you can install yourself is always going to be drastically cheaper than having to pay professional installers to attach solar panels to your roof.
Take a look at something super basic, like the Powerfield PowerRack, which is basically just something you can throw on the ground and clip panels to. Not only is it cheap to buy, your grandmother could install it.
If you want to go with a more high-end backyard solar panel mount, something like the incredibly popular EG4 Solar Panel Ground Mount or even the Chiko GroundFlex is still going to be much cheaper than hiring rooftop installers.
Given that ground-mounted solar systems can be adjusted and repositioned for better sun exposure, they often help your solar panels generate more power over their lifespan. This means you could see higher energy savings in the long run.
If your material costs and the installation fees are both much lower than a roof solar alternative, and your panels are more productive, the combined savings can be substantial. This is particularly true when you spread the costs over the entire lifespan of your equipment.
While it’s true that not everyone is going to pay someone else to clean their roof-mounted solar panels for them, those that want to get the most out of their panels are going to have to spend the better part of a day doing it themselves, or by hiring expensive professionals to do it for them.
With a ground mount solar array, you save money by handling cleaning and minor maintenance yourself. There’s no need to hire professionals or take a full day to do a task that could just take you 15 minutes with a hose and brush. Even if you go all out and buy a purpose-built solar panel cleaning brush, you’re going to still save a lot of money in the long run.
If you’re sold on the idea of going with a ground-mount solar system, you’ll need the right mounting hardware for your solar panels. Plenty of people just take a trip to the hardware store and build their own mount, but with how cheap high-quality panel mounts are today, there’s almost no point in going that route.
Even some of the most budget-friendly solar panel rack and mounting options work extremely well and make the entire installation process so much easier.
We already mentioned that one of the most popular choices right now is the EG4 Solar Panel Ground Mount. It's well-built, made from high-grade steel, and its adjustable sliding mounts make it a durable and versatile option.
However, if you’re looking for the cheapest ground-mount solar racking systems, there are plenty of decent options out there that you won’t have to break the bank to pick up.
Last year, we tested a bunch of different solar panel mounts, including the IntegraRack IR-30 System, which only cost about $120 per segment, and it works incredibly well. You’ve also got those PowerRacks we mentioned earlier, as well as the Eco-Worthy Mount.
While these may not be as robust as higher-end models, they can certainly do the job and can even be improved with a little DIY work.
We’ve added caster wheels for mobility to some of the mounts we’ve tested, as well as reinforcing them with a few 2x4s. These types of modifications only take an afternoon, and they’re so much easier than starting from scratch.
Ground-mounted solar panels aren’t going to be a perfect fit for everyone, but neither are rooftop solar panels.
If you have the space and want more flexibility, easier maintenance, and better adjustability and efficiency, even a simple solar ground mount can be a great option. And best of all? No more risking your neck climbing on your roof just to clear snow or bird poop off your solar panels!
Signature Solar: https://signaturesolar.com/solar-ground-mounts
Use Code: SOLARLABSAVE50 for $50 Off Your Order
Shop Solar: https://shopsolarkits.com/solar-ground-mounts
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