Solar Park – Flood Bund and Solar Panel Pile Design

2022 to 2024 – Southeast England, Uk

Geotechnical Support for a Large Solar Park Development

Ground Projects were involved in the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) for a large solar park.

The site comprises over 550,000 solar photovoltaic modules and is capable of providing power to over 100,000 homes.

The site is situated in a Flood Risk Zone 3 and benefits from flood defence measures.

Ground Projects provided geotechnical interpretation and design support for a flood bund to protect the substation, and for the solar panel piles. This included in-depth statistical analysis of pile test and installation data.

The ground conditions encountered at the site comprised very soft Alluvium, desiccated in the upper 1-2m, overlying London Clay. Ground conditions presented potential bearing failure and excessive settlement issues as well as failure potential of piles in tension.

Ground Projects’ scope included slope stability and settlement assessment of the flood bund, following a specified ground investigation. Pile options were reviewed for the solar panel modules.

Services Provided

Drone survey
Geotechnical Interpretive Report
Slope Stability Assessment
3D Settlement Assessment
Pile Design Check

Added Value

Offered practical, buildable geotechnical solutions aligned with programme, budget, and site constraints.
Inspected the construction of the bund and reviewed settlement monitoring data, ensuring compliance with the specification.
Undertook statistical analyses of results from ‘pull-out’ tests of varying pile types enabling optimised design, contributing to cost savings.