A Case Study of Structural Failure of Mounting Systems for Solar Panels from South-Eastern Turkey: An Investigation of Design Parameters under Extreme Weather Events

Abstract

One of the biggest demand of growing population, and cornerstone of the socio-economical growth of Nations, Energy is expected today to be Sustainable, Easy to Reach, Economical, and Continuous. As one of the most common and imperative contributors of this Clean Energy Future, Solar Energy in various forms takes a significant role whole around the World. And It shows a great potential particularly for Turkey which imports the majority of its Energy Resources - including Conventional Ones - from Out Sources, to decrease Energy Dependency on Out-of-country Bases and increase awareness to develop competition in New Technology and Production Fields. Based on a Structural Failure Case of Supporting Frames designed for Solar Photovoltaics (PV) in a Solar Power Plant from Turkey, this paper addresses the significance of Local and Site-Specific Investigation of Climate Data to properly decide on Structural Design Parameters -particularly Loads of Snow and Wind- by staying still comformable with National Codes and Standards.