Screw pile
Screw piles instead of concrete footings
Screw piles are a concrete-free foundation method developed for modern energy infrastructure. By replacing cast-in-place concrete foundations, they reduce both installation time and environmental impact, while providing the structure with stable and predictable load transfer.
This method is particularly well suited for wind towers and solar carports, where wind loads and horizontal forces are the design-determining factors.
Why screw piles?
Concrete has long been the standard material for foundations, but it has a high embedded carbon footprint and requires lengthy installation times. Screw piles offer a technically sound and more resource-efficient alternative.
Advantages:
- Concrete-free foundation
- Up to approximately 85% lower CO₂ impact compared to traditional concrete foundations
- Immediate load-bearing capacity
- Reversible and detachable design
Technical function
Unlike solid concrete footings, which rely on their own weight, screw piles use helical anchoring. When the screw is installed, it compacts the surrounding soil and generates bearing capacity through friction and shear strength.
Materials
The screw piles are made of hot-dip galvanized structural steel, often containing a high percentage of recycled material, which helps reduce the carbon footprint.
Load capacity
The system is designed to withstand vertical loads, horizontal forces, and moments. This makes the solution suitable for structures subject to significant wind loads, such as wind towers and solar carports.
Immediate load
Unlike concrete, which requires a curing period, the structure can bear a load immediately after installation.
Installation Process
Each project follows a structured technical workflow:
- Soil Investigation and Design
Soil type and load requirements are analyzed to determine the length, diameter, and number of pile foundations.
: If necessary, pilot holes may be drilled. In harder soil conditions, pilot holes may be drilled to ensure proper installation.
Hydraulic Installation The screw piles are installed using specialized equipment to the specified depth, typically between 1.2 and 5 meters, depending on the project’s load requirements.- Load Verification
Tensile and lateral load tests can be performed to verify that the foundations meet the design safety margins.
Minimal impact on the site
Installation is carried out with high precision and without extensive groundwork. Upon dismantling, the screw foundations can be removed and the ground restored without leaving any concrete residue.
This makes the method particularly suitable for sensitive environments, temporary installations, and projects where reversibility is part of the sustainability strategy.