Selection of mounting structures material for photovoltaic power plant

Abstract

Photovoltaic power plants have become one of the key actors in producing renewable energy on a global level in the last ten years. The main reason is the transition from traditional energy sources to new, more sustainable, and environmentally friendly sources. While considerable focus is placed on plant design, including site selection, plant size, and solar panel types, one key question that is often overlooked is, "What materials are best for the mounting structures of these PV plants?". The selection of suitable materials for mounting solar panels is crucial to ensure the efficiency, resistance, and environmental sustainability of the entire system. This thesis aims to thoroughly analyze those materials, with an emphasis on their characteristics, production methods, ecological footprint, and long-term usability in different environments. Also, economic aspects are important, because companies always try to minimize costs. The paper consists of two parts: theoretical, which provides an overview of relevant concepts and a description of the most used materials, and practical, in which decisions made in a specific case are analyzed. The main goal is to select the best assembly material using multi-criteria decision-making methods, considering the market of Bosnia and Herzegovina and surrounding countries. This work had the help of a local energy company from Bosnia and Herzegovina, which provided data essential for the research and development of this thesis.