The Solar Market
The fastest-growing clean energy sector in North America.
With utility-scale solar farms, community solar projects, and distributed systems being installed at record rates, the demand for durable, cost-effective infrastructure has never been greater.
Every project requires a foundation of piles, racking, and framing systems that can withstand decades of exposure to the elements while maintaining structural integrity and performance.
BENEFITS
Why Steel is Used
Steel is the preferred material for solar infrastructure because it combines strength, versatility, and sustainability. It can be engineered to perform in diverse soil types and terrains, supporting large-scale solar arrays with efficiency and consistency. Unlike alternative materials, steel is produced to exacting standards and offers the load-bearing capacity needed for modern solar designs. In addition, steel is highly recyclable, aligning perfectly with the sustainability goals of clean energy developers and utilities.
How Steel & Zinc Coatings Solve Problems
While steel provides the backbone, it is the protection of zinc coatings, especially hot-dip galvanizing (HDG), that ensures long-term reliability. Corrosion is one of the greatest risks to solar infrastructure, particularly for piles and racking systems exposed to soil and elements. Zinc coatings form a durable barrier that resists corrosion and, through galvanic protection, extend the service life of steel well beyond project design requirements.
Durability
HDG piles often exceed 75 years of performance in most soils, reducing costly replacements.
Sustainability
Longer service life means fewer materials consumed, lower carbon impacts, and reduced maintenance over the project’s lifecycle.
Reliability
Steel + zinc systems keep solar fields operating efficiently and predictably, giving owners and investors confidence in long-term returns.
Proven Performance
The same HDG steel sections used as solar piles are already deployed in demanding applications such as highway guardrail posts, where they have decades of proven performance in varied soils and climates. This provides real-world data and expertise that can be directly applied to solar projects.
Join us in advancing North American steel and zinc coatings in clean energy.
Whether you are a utility, fabricator, EPC, or developer, CES offers tools, knowledge, and collaboration to help your projects succeed.