Why Are Solar PV Mounting Systems Becoming More Expensive?

Explaining the facts behind the price increase.

When planning a solar power plant, investors carefully evaluate every cost item. Therefore, when the price of mounting systems increases during project budgeting, the obvious question is: why?

At first glance, it may seem that manufacturers are simply raising their prices. In reality, the situation is much more complex. A mounting system is an engineered product whose cost depends directly on global steel markets, raw materials, logistics, and manufacturing resources.

Today, these factors have resulted in an overall increase in production costs of nearly 8%.

Steel remains the primary cost driver

Structural steel accounts for approximately 65% of the total manufacturing cost of a mounting system.

Over the recent period, the steel price index has increased from USD 465/t to USD 505/t, representing an 8.6% increase.

This alone contributes more than 5.5% to the final price of PV mounting structures.

This is not a local pricing decision by manufacturers but a reflection of global steel market trends.

Hot-dip galvanizing: an invisible but essential component

A high-quality mounting system is expected to withstand decades of exposure to rain, snow, temperature fluctuations, and UV radiation. For this reason, hot-dip galvanizing is a critical manufacturing process.

Galvanizing represents more than 14% of the total production cost, while zinc itself accounts for approximately 60% of the galvanizing process.

During the same period, zinc prices increased by nearly 10%, from USD 3,270/t to USD 3,596/t.

As a result, the cost of corrosion protection inevitably increases as well.

Logistics also impact project costs

PV mounting systems are heavy and oversized products that require specialized transportation.

Fuel prices have risen by nearly 12%, while fuel represents approximately 55% of transportation costs.

Although the increase may appear modest for a single shipment, logistics become a significant cost factor when transporting dozens or hundreds of tons of steel structures.

Inflation continues to affect manufacturing

Steel is only one component of production.

Electricity, equipment operation, labor costs, and maintenance of manufacturing facilities have all become more expensive.

On average, inflation contributes an additional 1.4% to overall production costs.

Why do we openly discuss these factors?

At SOLAR Steelconstruction, we believe that long-term partnerships are built on transparency.

We continuously monitor global steel, zinc, and logistics markets, analyze production indicators, and understand how each market trend affects the total cost of a solar project.

That is why our customers receive pricing based on objective market data rather than assumptions.

What does this mean for investors?

In today’s market, choosing the lowest-priced mounting system is not always the most cost-effective decision.

Excessive cost reduction may result in thinner steel sections, reduced zinc coating thickness, or lower structural safety margins. For an asset expected to operate reliably for 25–30 years, these compromises may ultimately become far more expensive than the initial savings.

At the same time, professional engineering allows structural optimization without sacrificing strength, durability, or reliability. This is exactly where our expertise delivers value.

Our approach

A solar power plant is a long-term investment designed to operate for decades.

Investment decisions should therefore be based not only on today’s purchase price but also on a clear understanding of how project costs are formed and how they affect long-term performance.

This is the approach that SOLAR Steelconstruction brings to every project.