What are the common types of distributed photovoltaic systems?

Distributed photovoltaic systems refer to small-scale photovoltaic power stations primarily constructed on building surfaces or small nearby open areas. Due to their advantages such as low investment cost, rapid construction, adaptability to local conditions, and localized utilization, they are gradually becoming a mainstream form of photovoltaic power generation. For technical and policy reasons, including construction周期, cost, and self-weight, steel structures are predominantly used as supports. This article will briefly compare and analyze several commonly used steel structure types for distributed photovoltaic supports, providing references for the design of similar projects.

1. Photovoltaic Supports on Concrete Structure Roofs
   These are installed on the roofs of concrete structure buildings, primarily using small steel supports constructed on concrete pedestals as mounting structures for photovoltaic panels. The technology is now relatively mature, the structural form is straightforward, and standard design atlases are available.

2. Photovoltaic Supports on Existing Steel Structure Roofs
   These are installed on the roofs of single-story steel structure factories or large-scale breeding farms (typically simple steel shed structures). There are two main construction methods. For buildings in good structural condition, photovoltaic panels can be installed directly on the roof after appropriate reinforcement of the original structure. For buildings in poor condition or simple steel shed breeding farms, if photovoltaic panels are installed directly on the original steel structure roof, the cost of reinforcing the original structure may be high. In such cases, new steel structure supports can be built spanning the original structure, and photovoltaic panels can be installed on the roof of the new steel structure.

3. Newly Built Photovoltaic Supports on Open Ground
   These are installed on small open areas near buildings or within factory (site) premises. Typically, the owners have certain functional requirements for the open areas where photovoltaic panels are installed. In addition to power generation on the top, the space below can be utilized for purposes such as storage or breeding. Therefore, steel structure supports with certain spans and clear heights are generally newly constructed for the installation of photovoltaic panels.