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Screw-driving machines for solar parks — PV installation without concrete

Glentor manufactures mobile driving machines for the installation of ground screws for solar panels. The machines can handle 30 or more screws per hour, work on slopes and in difficult terrain, and require no excavation or concrete — the foundation work for a PV park takes days, not weeks.

Why ground screws for solar farms?

Foundations on concrete footings were standard for solar parks in the era when EPC contractors had no alternative. Today, they do. Ground screws bring three key advantages to PV projects:

Speed. The screw-driving machine installs 30 or more screws per hour. Concrete footings require excavation, formwork, concreting, and 7–28 days of curing — for a 1 MWp field, this can mean a difference of 5–10 working days compared to several weeks with concrete.

Terrain flexibility. Ground screws are installed on slopes, on uneven terrain, and in soils with varied profiles. Concrete on a slope or on complex terrain requires costly levelling work. The Glentor machine operates with a carriage tilt of ±15–18°.

Reversibility. At the end of the park's lifespan (typically 25–30 years), the ground screws can be hydraulically unscrewed and the land returned to its original state without any construction waste. This is crucial for leased agricultural land or areas with time-limited consent.

Advantages over concrete foundations — overview

CriterionGround screwsConcrete footings
Point installation5–15 minutes2–4 hours (excavation + formwork + concreting)
Load capacity fromImmediately after drillingAfter 7–28 days of curing
Technology1 machine + 1–2 operatorsExcavator + mixer + 3–5 workers
Working on a slope✅ No restriction❌ Levelling required
Project dismantling✅ 100 % reversible❌ Destructive, construction waste
CO₂ footprint per point~137 kg~720 kg
Waste on siteNone2–5 m³ of timber per point

Detailed comparison of technologies: Ground screws vs concrete foundations

How a solar park is established – step by step

  1. Geotechnical survey and design Before installation, a ground investigation (CPT tests or boreholes) is carried out. Based on the data, the geotechnical engineer determines the screw diameter, depth and helix type. For standard PV power plant sites in the Czech Republic, an investigation within the scope of GK1–GK2 according to Eurocode 7 is generally sufficient.
  2. Transport of the machine to the site The Glentor C65 is transported on a standard flatbed truck or trailer. A weight of 3,050–3,250 kg (depending on configuration) allows for transport without oversize permits. On site, the machine is ready for operation within 30 minutes.
  3. Spotting and pecking Screw piles are installed according to GPS coordinates from the project documentation. The machine records the torque profile at each point via a telematics unit—the record serves as proof that the geotechnical resistance has been achieved.
  4. Verticality and load-bearing capacity check After driving, the verticality of the screw is checked (permitted deviation according to the design) and the recorded torque confirms that the required depth in the bearing stratum has been reached.
  5. Handover and assembly of the structure Following the installation of the screws, the assembly of the steel structure and panels takes place. The screws are immediately fully load-bearing — no waiting required.

Recommended Glentor machines for solar parks

Glentor C65 — primary choice for large PV plants

The C65 is the largest and most productive machine in the Glentor range. It is designed specifically for large-scale projects where productivity and the ability to work in difficult terrain are key.

ParameterValue
Torque6,500 Nm / 20 rpm
Max. length of screw / pile3.5 / 4.3 m
Mass3,050–3,250 kg
MTB36 hydraulic breaker900 J / up to 900 bpm
Carriage elevation±15° / 8°
MotorHatz 3H50TICD, 43.7 kW

The C65 features optional MTB36 hydraulic hammer equipment, which enables efficient driving in favourable conditions where hammering is not enough — stony ground and consolidated layers — where drilling or DTH pre-drilling comes into play. Side-driving facilitates work in rows of panels and in spatially restricted situations.

For whom: EPC contractors for PV plants from 1 MWp, projects on challenging terrain, locations with irregular soil profile.

Glentor B80 — alternative to standard terms

The B80 offers higher torque (8,000 Nm) at a lower weight (2,480 kg) and is suitable for smaller ground-mounted PV projects where a pile driver cannot be used.

ParameterValue
Torque8,000 Nm / 20 rpm
Max. screw length2.5 metres
Mass2,480 kg
Carriage elevation±18° / 8°
MotorHatz 3H50TICD, 43.7 kW

For whom: PV projects 0.5–10 MWp, projects where lower transport weight is the priority.

Productivity in numbers

The key parameter for the EPC calculation is the number of screws per shift. Glentor C65 and B80 achieve under standard conditions:

  • 30+ screws per hour in softer soil (loam, sand)
  • 15 to 25 screws per hour in stiffer soil (clay, gravel with stones)
  • 8–15 screws per hour in difficult terrain (rock, rubble)

For a 1 MWp PV plant (typically 400–600 ground screws), this means 2–4 working days set-up with one machine and two operators. With concrete, the same project would take 3–6 weeks.

Terrain and soil conditions

Glentor machines are designed for the real conditions of Czech, European and other locations:

Standard terrain (C65, B80):

  • Clay and loamy soils
  • Gravel and gravel-sand
  • Slope of ±15–18°
  • Slightly waterlogged layers

Challenging terrain:

  • Stony and rocky areas
  • Hardened layers (clay core, compacted gravel)
  • Sites with an irregular soil profile

If you are unsure whether your site is suitable, we recommend carrying out a trial drilling of the first 5–10 screws, with an analysis of the torque data. This procedure is a standard part of the preparation for solar power plant projects, and Glentor supports it by providing telemetry data from the machine.

Regulations and standards

The installation of ground-mounted solar power stations in the Czech Republic is subject to ČSN EN 1997 (Eurocode 7) — geotechnical design. Ground screws are classified as pile foundations (EN 14199) and are routinely recognised as such by building authorities in the Czech Republic.

Documentation for a building permit usually includes:

  • Geotechnical investigation of the site
  • Structural analysis carried out by a chartered geotechnical engineer
  • Machine telematics data (torque × depth at each point)

Detailed guide to standards: Eurocode 7 and ground screws

Reference

Glentor machines have been in operation at solar power projects in the Czech Republic and abroad since 2022. We can provide a list of references on request — please contact us or arrange a demonstration at your site.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are you planning a solar farm?

Please contact us for a no-obligation consultation. We will recommend a machine suited to your requirements.
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