Solar Mounting Brackets and Carbon Footprint

When designing a solar power plant, the focus is often on the power of the panels, but choosing the right solar mounting brackets is an equally important decision. When the goal is genuinely environmentally friendly energy production, the material choice of the mounting system has significant weight. In this article, we compare the carbon footprint (LCA) of steel and aluminum brackets to determine which material is the more sustainable choice.

Solar panel mounting systems are typically manufactured from either aluminum or steel. Although both are common metals in construction, their manufacturing processes and environmental impacts differ significantly.

Official construction industry EPDs (Environmental Product Declarations) reveal that the material of the solar mounting brackets has a direct impact on the carbon footprint of the entire power plant.

Comparing Manufacturing Processes

The ecological impact of a material is largely determined by the energy required for its refining process.

Aluminum brackets are made from bauxite using electrolysis (the Hall-Héroult process). This is one of the most electricity-intensive processes in the industry. Since a large portion of the aluminum used in Europe is produced in countries where electricity generation relies on fossil fuels, the carbon footprint of aluminum rails is often high.

Steel solar mounting brackets are manufactured using a process that is more energy-efficient. The Nordic steel industry, in particular, has succeeded in optimizing production to a peak level. The SSAB steel used in RAULI products is a prime example of this: it offers the lowest emissions on the market without compromising on strength.

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What Does the Data Say About Emissions?

When we compare the raw materials of solar mounting systems in light of international LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) data, the differences are clear:

1. Aluminum (Global Average): According to International Aluminium Institute (IAI) data, aluminum production generates an average of approx. 16.6 kg CO2e for every kilogram produced.

2. Nordic Steel (SSAB): According to Environmental Product Declarations, the emissions of the steel used in RAULI brackets are only approx. 2.0 – 2.5 kg CO2e per kilogram.

The figures show that by choosing steel solar mounting brackets, the carbon footprint of the raw material can be a fraction of that of an aluminum equivalent.

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Strength Determines Material Usage

A common misconception is that aluminum is automatically the better choice due to its lightness. However, when it comes to solar mounting brackets, structural strength must be examined.

Steel is approximately three times stiffer than aluminum as a material. For an aluminum mounting rail to withstand the same snow and wind loads as a steel one, it must be more massive in profile.

Steel solar mounting brackets can be designed to be slimmer and thinner without compromising durability. High strength means more efficient material usage. When this is combined with the significantly lower emission factor of steel, the steel system is ecologically superior overall.

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A Responsible Choice for Construction Projects

An increasing number of construction projects are seeking environmental certification (e.g., BREEAM or LEED). In these calculations, every building material, including the solar panel mounting system, affects the whole.

To make reporting environmental impacts as effortless as possible, we have integrated emission data directly into our design tool. The RAULI APP automatically calculates the project-specific carbon footprint of the brackets, and the exact CO2 value is displayed directly on the installation report PDF. This verified data is easy to attach as part of the project's environmental assessment.

A solar power plant is an investment that lasts for decades. By choosing domestic, steel solar mounting brackets, you ensure not only the durability of the roof but also a smaller carbon footprint for the project. In the design of RAULI products, SSAB steel was chosen precisely because it combines top-class durability with responsibility.

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References

The information in this article is based on independent sources:
• IAI Carbon Footprint Data
• SSAB EPD Library‍
• World Steel Sustainability Indicators

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