Screw Piles vs Traditional Piles for Solar Foundations

Knowledge Base

The benefits of using ground screws to secure solar arrays

RADIX Ground Screws provide greater levels of support for solar arrays than traditional footings, such as piles and concrete ballasts, as the continuous helix of a ground screw generates greater friction underground.

Solar panels naturally have a large surface area to capture the sun's rays, which in turn is affected by the wind. As illustrated in the infographic, the increased levels of friction created by the continuous helix provide each ground screw the capability to withstand significant horizontal and vertical uplift forces exceeding 45kN in suitable ground conditions.

These abilities make RADIX Ground Screws a superior foundation solution to secure your solar investments in challenging wind-exposed areas.

why use ground screw foundations for solar arrays

The advantages of ground screw foundations for solar projects

The many attributes of RADIX Ground Screws contribute to their outstanding benefits, especially when paired with solar projects.

RADIX Ground Screws can be installed in remote and rural locations well-suited to solar arrays, where the installation of traditional foundations may not be possible.

low-impact foundations with minimal disturbance

Installation is efficient and causes minimal noise and disruption to surrounding communities and local businesses.

ground screws for solar arrays around trees

RADIX Ground Screws remove the need for digging up, damaging, or causing disturbance to natural habitats, landscapes, and surrounding trees and their root systems.

Ground screws are a sustainable, low-carbon alternative to concrete, with a galvanised steel coating that increases durability and resistance against corrosion to offer a lifespan of 76+ years.

ground screws for solar arrays in winter

RADIX Ground Screws can be installed at any time of the year in any weather, allowing for installation to continue throughout rainy or frosty seasons.

As efficiently as their installation, ground screw foundations are easily removable at the end of a solar array’s lifespan while altogether removing the need for expensive and heavy excavations.

Benefits of ground screws for solar arrays racking systems

A range of robust solar racking systems

At RADIX, we offer a complete solution to secure your solar arrays on with two robust solar racking systems.

• RADIX SolarTerrace
• RADIX SolarTripod

These racking systems can secure all scales of commercial and domestic projects, providing a complete solution to protect your solar investment.

With components designed for efficiency and precision of installation, you can rapidly deploy a complete foundation and racking solution for your solar array allowing you to mount solar panels immediately.

Positioning RADIX Ground Screws alongside these racking systems provides the complete foundation and racking solution for solar projects of all ranges.

Secure your solar investment on RADIX Ground Screw foundations

If you require any technical information or assistance with the installation of a solar array, get in touch with our trusted teams.

We are here to help.