Ground-mounted solar panels are typically installed in mostly flat, open fields, especially in utility-scale projects. Certain solar markets have naturally flat land, which makes installation simpler, but flat terrain is not always an option. Solar sites in mountainous countries or hilly areas can undergo civil engineering to provide flat ground for installation. However, levelling the land can alter stormwater runoff patterns on the site, potentially displacing native species and increasing project costs.

The solution to undulating terrain is a non-intrusive mounting option designed for slopes, slopes and hills. A common solution is to extend the column length, but installers can make custom brackets or install the panels in smaller rows or single-bay tables.

GameChange Solar has a history of working in the hills of the Northeastern United States. For the past few years, the company has been manufacturing solutions for installation on undulating project sites and helping installers avoid civil engineering.

GameChange Solar's MaxSpan mounting and racking solutions add 6 to 9 inches of post length and are ideal for undulating terrain types. The purlins that attach to the frame can be adjusted up to a 15% inclination. The extra post length allows installers to place rack modules in a row on hilly terrain.

RBI Solar manufactures specific racks and supports in-house for each project - whether it's a flat site or a hilly terrain. If a proposed solar project will use a tracker, RBI analyzes from the terrain file to determine if the site's terrain rating exceeds the tracker's operational threshold.
RBI team members say civil engineering is a budget killer for projects, and hilly terrain is often cheaper than naturally flat or sloping land.