Screw piling machines for solar parks — PV mounting without concrete

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 essential advantages to PV projects:

Speed. The driving machine installs 30 or more screws per hour. Concrete foundations 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, uneven terrain, and in soils with various profiles. Concrete on a slope or on rugged land requires costly leveling work. The Glentor machine works 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 construction debris. Key for leased agricultural land or areas with time-limited approval.

A Detailed Comparison of Technologies: Ground screws vs. concrete foundations

1. Geotechnical survey and design Prior to installation, a soil investigation is carried out (CPT testing or borehole drilling). Based on the data, a geotechnical engineer determines the screw diameter, depth, and helix type. For standard PV power plant locations in the Czech Republic, an investigation in the scope of GK1–GK2 according to Eurocode 7 is usually sufficient.
2. Machine transport to the site The Glentor C65 is transported on a standard flatbed truck or trailer. Weighing 3,050–3,250 kg (depending on the configuration), it can be transported without requiring an oversized permit. Once on site, the machine is ready for operation within 30 minutes.
3. Centering and drilling Screw piles are installed according to the GPS coordinates from the project documentation. The machine records the torque profile at each point via a telematics unit—this record serves as proof that the geotechnical resistance has been achieved.
4. Plumb and load-bearing capacity check After installation, the verticality of the screw is checked (permitted deviation according to the design), and the recorded torque confirms that the required depth in the load-bearing layer has been reached.
5. Handover and assembly of the structure Once the screws are installed, the steel structure and panels are assembled. The screws can bear a full load immediately—no waiting required.

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

The C65 features optional equipment for the MTB36 hydraulic hammer, which enables efficient installation in favorable conditions where driving is not enough — rocky locations, compacted layers — where screwing or DTH pre-drilling comes into play. Side driving facilitates work in rows of panels and in spatially limited situations.

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

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.

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

A key parameter for 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 to 15 screws per hour in difficult terrain (rock, fill)

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

Glentor machines are designed for real-world conditions in the Czech Republic, Europe, and other locations:

Standard terrain (C65, B80):

• Clay and clay-loam soils
• Gravel and sand-gravel
• Slope up to ±15–18°
• Slightly water-saturated layers

Challenging terrain:

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

If you are not sure whether your land is suitable, we recommend trial drilling the first 5–10 ground screws with an evaluation of the torque record. This procedure is a standard part of PV project preparation, and Glentor supports it with the machine's telemetric data.

Installation on ground screws for PV systems in the Czech Republic is subject to ČSN EN 1997 (Eurocode 7) — geotechnical design. Ground screws are classified as pile foundations (EN 14199), and building authorities in the Czech Republic recognize them as standard.

Documentation for a building permit usually includes:

• Geotechnical Survey of the Site
• Structural calculation by an authorized geotechnical engineer
• Machine telematics logs (torque × depth at each point)

A Detailed Guide to Standards: Eurocode 7 and screw piles

Glentor machines have been operating in photovoltaic projects in the Czech Republic and abroad since 2022. A reference list is available upon request — contact us or arrange a demo at your site.

Contact us for a no-obligation consultation. We will prepare a machine recommendation tailored to your conditions.
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