February 16, 2016
With fossil fuels quickly becoming harder and harder to come by, we must begin looking for alternatives to continue our high necessity for energy. One such method is using solar energy to help create a clean, limitless alternative to our current energy dependence. Up until now, most of these frames have been created using pressed steel, a long and very expensive process, especially for the costs associated with creating the necessary frameworks for the photovoltaic cells.
Aluminum Provides Increased Stability
Innovations in aluminum extrusion technology are providing improved stability for solar panels in the field. To obtain maximum efficiency, solar panels need to be posiitoned with exceptional accuracy. Even miniscule shifts in position can reduce the power output by varying degrees depending on how big of a positional shift there was.
Aluminum extrusion can be used to help create a comprehensive framework for solar panels in a wide variety of situations including frames, supports, and even connectors. Aluminum extrusion products offer numerous benefits over alternative metals.
Lower Cost but Same Benefits as Welded Steel
Aluminum used to make trusses offer a level of strength similar to welded steel, and can even maintain the stability needed to resist shifting caused by wind and other stresses that might occur to a solar panel array. Additionally, Due to being extremely light weight, it makes the aluminum structures easier to transport and assemble in remote locations, which is very common when it comes to major solar power powerplants. Also, the lightweight characteristic of aluminum makes it perfect for rooftop installations especially where building specs have limited capacities for supporting the additional weight of the panels and its substructure. Finally, the malleability of aluminum extrusions helps to allow flexibility in the design of supports and frames for solar panels, which allows the aluminum to connect at exact and uncommon angles while requiring fewer parts and fewer connections which in turn allows the panel to reach maximum efficiency.
