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.

Are helical piles good for solar panels?

Helical piles and micropiles work well in compression and tension applications and are ideally suited for solar panel installation. What are the differences between drilled shaft and helical piles? What equipment options are available for their installation?

What is a helical pile?

Helical piles (also called helical piers) are basically steel shafts with helical flights that remain in the ground to which the above ground racking is fastened. Ground screws share the same basic principles as helical piles and are also used for anchoring solar arrays.

How many helical piles are installed a day?

Some manufactures of helical piles for solar array anchoring assert installation rates as high as 500 piles per day. What type of installation equipment is required for drilled shaft piles and helical piers?

How do you anchor a ground mounted solar array?

By Brandon Wronski, Special To Solar Power World Various options exist for anchoring ground mounted solar arrays. These include drilled shaft piles (also called micropiles or caissons), driven piles and helical piers or ground screws.

How deep is a drilled shaft pile for a solar array?

Drilled shaft piles for solar array footings can vary anywhere from 6 to 24 inches in diameter and 5 to 30 feet deep, depending on site conditions and other variables. The drilled shaft or borehole is filled with high-strength cement grout or concrete. At times, steel casing or re-bar is used for reinforcement.