Hoisting of photovoltaic slab stone pier

How is a ground mounted PV solar panel Foundation designed?

This case study focuses on the design of a ground mounted PV solar panel foundation using the engineering software program spMats. The selected solar panel is known as Top-of-Pole Mount (TPM), where it is deigned to install quickly and provide a secure mounting structure for PV modules on a single pole.

Are helical piles a good choice for solar array anchoring?

Depending on ground conditions, helical piles can often be shorter in length and therefore cost less in installation time and energy consumption than comparable driven piles or drilled shafts. Some manufactures of helical piles for solar array anchoring assert installation rates as high as 500 piles per day.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of concrete piers?

Using concrete piers for Earth Anchors in PV Ground Mounted Arrays has several advantages. Minimal equipment is required for installation, and they can be relatively shallow compared to driven steel piles. However, there are also disadvantages. Concrete is used, which takes days to cure, and the process is labor intensive. Additionally, the steel post must be embedded the full depth of the pier, or rebar cages must be used.

Can a concrete façade double the power harvesting capacity of traditional roof-based solar?

With two different yet complementary sets of knowledge, LafargeHolcim and Heliatek joined forces to create an architectural concrete panel façade system with the potential to double the power harvesting capacity of traditional roof-based solar technologies.

Could photovoltaic concrete be the future of architecture?

Header Image via Architect Magazine. Several recent advancements in photovoltaic construction signal that energy-generating concrete could play a larger role in the future of architecture. Two cases in particular, stand out in their recent contributions to the burgeoning field of photovoltaic concrete.

What is a photovoltaic concrete structure?

Researchers of the Block Research Group at ETH Zurich have developed an ultra-thin, self-supporting, photovoltaic concrete structure with multiple layers of functionality. Beyond just power generation, this incredibly sinuous structure offers thermal regulation, insulation and waterproofing properties.