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Energy Technologies Area (ETA) researchers are continually building on the strong scientific foundation we have developed over the past 50 years. We address the world’s most pressing scientific challenges across the buildings, transportation, and industrial sectors. ETA is at the forefront of improving the country's aging electrical grid and innovating distributed energy and storage solutions; developing grid-integrated building systems; and providing the most comprehensive market and data analysis worldwide.
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The Energy Technologies Area (ETA) is unique in translating fundamental scientific discoveries into scalable technology adoption. Our approach combines an understanding of the marketplace and the role of state and federal regulation and policies. ETA's research drives real-world, practical results that affect and improve the everyday lives of Americans and those across the globe. Saving energy and increasing reliability are key to the foundation of our research, which is driven by techno-economic analysis and in-lab experimentation and discovery.

Fundamentals of Solar PV Bolted Joint Loosening and Prevention

Publication Type

Report

Date Published

01/2026

Authors

Ness, Jon, Gerald Robinson

Abstract

This report explores the causes of bolted joint loosening in solar PV mounting systems and outlines practical design and installation strategies to improve reliability. It distinguishes between relaxation and self-loosening mechanisms, examines factors such as embedment, thermal effects, joint slip, and friction, and presents guidance on joint design, pretension control, and locking methods to reduce preload loss in utility-scale PV structures.

Year of Publication

2026

Organization

Building & Industrial Energy Systems Division, Building and Industrial Applications Department, High Tech and Industrial Systems

Research Areas

Reliability and Resilience, Commercial Building Systems, BTUS Energy and Financing, Industrial Applications, Industrial Energy Systems