Some solar photovoltaic panels have a frameless design, with the cells sandwiched between two pieces of glass, while other, more flexible designs use polymers to protect the electronics. But for all other solar panels with a frame, it's likely to be made of aluminum. There is now a growing momentum to use other framing material options for environmental and practical reasons. Steel is one of them.

Aluminum is likely to be the primary material of choice for panel framing due to its light weight and excellent corrosion resistance. More and more companies are switching from aluminum frames to steel frames because aluminum is expensive and has a huge carbon footprint.

Steel may be the frame material of choice for the future solar industry. It is inherently stronger than aluminum, so it is easier to support the added size and weight of large format modules. With the advancement of new corrosion coatings, steel is better able to withstand the increasingly unstable elements associated with climate change.