Data centers consume enormous amounts of electricity — they account for roughly 1-2% of global electricity use. Solar helps companies reduce both costs and carbon footprints. Major players like Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta have invested heavily in solar to power their data centers. Google, for example, has been matching its electricity use with renewables for years. That’s great news, as solar is better for everyone all around.
How Solar Works for Data Centers
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On-site solar arrays — Data Centers can install panels directly on rooftops or adjacent land to generate power locally.
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Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) — Companies contract with solar farms to buy renewable energy, which feeds into the grid at roughly the same rate the data center draws power.
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Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) — Companies can also purchase credits representing solar generation elsewhere on the grid.
Types of Solar Racking/Mounting Systems
1. GROUND-MOUNT RACKING
The most common choice for large data center solar installations due to scalability.
Fixed-Tilt Systems
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Panels are mounted at a fixed angle (typically 10°–30° depending on latitude)
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Simple, low-maintenance, and cost-effective
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Aluminum or galvanized steel rails run horizontally across rows of vertical posts
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Posts are either driven directly into the ground (helical piers or driven piles) or set in concrete footings
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Inter-row spacing is calculated to minimize shading
Single-Axis Trackers (SAT)
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Panels rotate east-to-west throughout the day to follow the sun
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Can increase energy yield by 20–30% over fixed-tilt
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Uses a torque tube (horizontal beam) as the central rotating axis
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Driven by small electric motors and controlled by software algorithms
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Popular for utility-scale and large data center installations where maximizing output per acre matters
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Brands: Nextracker, Array Technologies, Arctech, GameChange Solar
Dual-Axis Trackers
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Track both east-west and north-south (tilt adjusts seasonally)
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Maximum energy yield but significantly higher cost and complexity
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Rarely used at data center scale — overkill for most applications
Components Used in Ground Racking Systems
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Driven piles / helical piers — steel posts hammered or screwed into the ground; no concrete needed, faster installation
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Concrete ballast piers — used in rocky soil where driving isn't feasible
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Purlins — horizontal members that span between posts and support the rails
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Rails — aluminum extrusions that the panels clamp onto
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Cross-bracing — diagonal steel members that resist wind and seismic loads
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Pile caps — connect the top of the pile to the racking structure above
2. ROOFTOP RACKING
Used when ground space is limited and the data center building itself is the mounting surface.
Pitched Roof Systems
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Less common for data centers (most have flat roofs) but used on some facilities
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L-feet or standoffs lag-bolted into roof rafters
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Rails run parallel to the roof slope
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Panels mounted in portrait or landscape orientation
Flat Roof Systems
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Far more common for commercial data centers
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Two main approaches:
Penetrating Mount
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Mounts bolted directly through the roof membrane into the structural deck or joists
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Requires waterproof flashing and sealant at every penetration
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Very secure — preferred for high-wind zones
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Requires structural engineering review to confirm roof can handle added load
Ballasted (Non-Penetrating) Mount
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Racking sits on the roof held down by concrete blocks (ballast)
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No roof penetrations — preserves warranty on roofing membrane
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Common on TPO, EPDM, and PVC membrane roofs
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Wind deflectors and aerodynamic tilt legs reduce ballast requirements
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Limited to lower tilt angles (5°–10°) to minimize wind uplift
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Brands: Unirac, Ecofoot, SunModo, SnapNrack
Rooftop-Specific Considerations:
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Roof load capacity is critical — solar adds 3–5 lbs/sq ft minimum
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Must maintain rooftop equipment access (HVAC units, cooling towers)
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Waterproofing integrity is non-negotiable for an active data facility
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Fire code setbacks required around roof edges and access pathways
3. CARPORT / CANOPY RACKING
Increasingly popular for data centers with large parking areas.
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Steel canopy structures span over parking spaces
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Panels mounted on top; cars park underneath
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Dual benefit: solar generation + shade/weather protection for vehicles
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Can incorporate EV charging stations below
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Requires deeper foundations due to higher wind/snow loads on exposed structure
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Higher cost per watt than ground-mount but utilizes otherwise unused space
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Brands: Baja Construction, Sollega, SunPower (carport systems)
Advance Components Fasteners & Tools for Solar Applications
We carry a large variety of industrial fasteners and tools that are used in the construction of data centers, server racks and solar arrays.
Fasteners for Data Center Solar Array Applications
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Open End Blind Rivets — standard aluminum-body rivets for general racking assembly connections
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Closed End Blind Rivets — sealed tip prevents moisture ingress, ideal for outdoor solar environments where corrosion resistance matters
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Socket Head Cap Screws - for precision electrical enclosure mounting and inverter installations
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Strain Relief Bushings — where cables enter enclosures and combiner boxes
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Snap Bushings & Open/Closed Bushings — protecting wire runs through metal racking
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Edge-Mount Cable Clips — securing DC wiring along racking rails
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Dome Plugs — sealing unused knockouts in electrical enclosures
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Blind Threaded Inserts — useful for creating threaded connections in aluminum racking where you can only access one side
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Hose Clamps — for securing conduit runs along racking structure
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U-Nuts, J-Nuts, and Speed Nuts — quick-attach nuts that slide into rail channels, handy for electrical panel mounting
- Cage Nuts and G-Nuts - used to construct data server racks
Tools
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Gage Bilt Rivet Drivers — for driving the blind rivets into racking components
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Gage Bilt Nose Assemblies & Power Units — interchangeable heads for different rivet sizes
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Goebel Cordless Rivet Tools — battery-powered for working across large ground-mount arrays without needing air hoses
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AVK Pneumatic & Gage Bilt Pneudraulic Rivet Guns — for high-volume fixed workstation use
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Caillau Hose Clamp Pliers — useful for securing conduit and cable bundle management
As solar becomes cheaper and battery storage improves, solar is playing an increasingly central role in making data centers more sustainable — especially important as AI workloads are dramatically increasing energy demand.
Advance Components is a master distributor for some of the best manufacturers of industrial fasteners and installation tools that are used in the solar, manufacturing and construction industries. Buy online 24/7 or contact us for a custom solution including shipping, bagging and stocking.