What are the common types of distributed photovoltaics?

Distributed photovoltaics refer to small-scale photovoltaic power stations, primarily constructed on building surfaces or small adjacent open spaces. Due to their advantages such as low investment cost, rapid construction, adaptability to local conditions, and proximity to usage, they are gradually becoming a predominant form of photovoltaic power generation. For technical and policy reasons, including construction timelines, cost, and self-weight considerations, steel structures are predominantly used as support frames. This article provides a brief comparative analysis of several common steel structure types used in distributed photovoltaic support frames, offering references for the design of similar projects.

1. Photovoltaic Support Frames on Concrete Structure Roofs
   These are installed on the roofs of concrete structure buildings, primarily utilizing small steel structure supports built on concrete piers as the mounting frames for photovoltaic panels. This technology is relatively mature, with straightforward structural designs and standardized design drawings available. This type will not be elaborated on in detail in this article.

2. Photovoltaic Support Frames on Existing Steel Structure Roofs
   These are installed on the roofs of single-story steel structure factory buildings or large-scale farming facilities (typically simple steel shed structures). There are two main construction methods: For buildings with good structural conditions, photovoltaic panels can be directly installed on the roof after appropriate reinforcement of the original structure. For buildings with poor conditions or simple steel shed farming facilities, directly installing photovoltaic panels on the original steel structure roof may incur high reinforcement costs. In such cases, new steel structure supports can be constructed to span the original structure, with photovoltaic panels installed on the roof of the new steel structure.

3. Newly Built Photovoltaic Support Frames on Open Land
   These are installed on small open spaces near buildings or within factory (facility) premises. Typically, the owners have specific functional requirements for the land used for photovoltaic panel installation, such as utilizing the space below for storage, farming, or other purposes while generating power on the top. Therefore, new steel structure supports with certain spans and clear heights are generally constructed for installing photovoltaic panels.