Solar Mounting Structures in Québec: Rooftops, Snow, Bifacial

In this episode, we welcome Sébastien Rivard, President of Opsun, to discuss an essential yet often overlooked component of solar: the mounting structure.

People usually talk about panels, inverters or batteries, but the structure is what physically supports the entire system. It drives performance, safety, durability and long-term ROI whether installed on a commercial building, a home, or an off-grid project.

Flat roofs, pitched roofs and ground-mount

In Québec, solar projects can be found on a wide range of mounting surfaces:

• commercial flat roofs (membrane, ballast, mechanical fastening)
• residential pitched roofs
• ground-mount structures
• carports and solar canopies
• off-grid and remote installations (cabins, outfitters, industrial sites)

Each configuration brings its own engineering and installation constraints:

• roof integration
• penetrations vs ballast
• waterproofing and membrane protection
• shading and exposure
• structural and wind load calculations

Québec climate: snow, wind and structural loads

Climate conditions are a major design factor in Québec:

• snow accumulation
• freeze/thaw cycles
• wind loads
• structural load capacity
• drainage and maintenance

These considerations often make Québec more demanding than many U.S. or European markets, structurally and from an engineering perspective.

Bifacial: performance gains when the structure enables it

Opsun is known for mounting solutions optimized for bifacial modules, which are gaining traction in Québec thanks to:

• snow albedo
• white roof membranes
• improved annual energy yield
• lower LCOE over time

But bifacial benefits only materialize when the structure allows backside irradiance. Poor design cancels most of the theoretical gain.

Common field mistakes

Throughout the discussion, several recurring mistakes are highlighted — both in residential and commercial environments:

• wind underestimation
• insufficient structural calculations
• incompatible designs for bifacial modules
• membrane and waterproofing issues
• material choices not adapted to climate
• weak coordination between installers, roofers and electricians

These can lead to water infiltration, reduced performance, premature wear or costly rework.

A market evolving quickly in Québec

The conversation also looks at how the Québec solar market is evolving:

• rising residential adoption
• growth of commercial and industrial projects
• upcoming provincial incentives
• off-grid interest and remote markets
• increased professionalism among installers
• more focus on engineering, compliance and quality

In this environment, the mounting structure moves from being an “afterthought” to a core performance driver.

Watch / Listen to the episode

🎥 YouTube https://youtu.be/HiNK5OE73f8

🎧 Spotify https://open.spotify.com/episode/0VlDp2SdRNvyERGGU3AgPR?si=rCEkxqT5QnueWqpno-fmfg

About Opsun

Opsun designs solar mounting structures adapted to North American climates for flat roofs, pitched roofs and ground-mount installations, with a strong expertise in bifacial optimization.

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