Solar power has emerged as a major alternative and clean source of energy in India to augment power generation. Solar energy is the most readily available source of non-polluting renewable energy resources. India is moving towards an ambitious target of making renewable energy generation at par with thermal plants.

In solar photovoltaic (PV) plants, thousands of solar panels are installed which are usually supported on single short piles. Being lightly loaded, the pullout and lateral capacities of the piles under wind loading are the critical loading condition.

Partnering with Tata Solar, CENGRS carried out the geotechnical investigation, pile installation and load testing for Jaitsar 160MW Solar Power Plant at Jaitsar, District Ganganagar, Rajasthan being set up by NTPC. The project is spread over an area of 826 acres.

After a detailed geotechnical investigation followed by over 150 initial load tests on test piles installed across the site, Cengrs proposed use of 300 mm diameter short piles to support the solar panels.