Case study
Ypäjä Solar Power Plant.
Complete foundation scope for a 1.5 MWp solar plant with 2P tracker structures. Helical-pile performance proven in harsh Nordic winter conditions.
The challenge
The Ypäjä Solar Power Plant required foundations for a 2P tracker system — taller, heavier and more dynamically loaded than fixed-tilt panel arrays. Tracker structures impose significant uplift and lateral loads alongside vertical compression, and must stay accurately aligned for the plant's full operational life.
The project also had to cope with Finnish winter: frozen ground, snow loads and freeze-thaw cycles that defeat many foundation systems.
Our approach
Helicasol delivered the complete foundation scope: test piling on the actual site, foundation design optimised against measured soil capacity, EN 1090 manufacturing and GPS-guided installation.
Pile geometry was specified to match the tracker manufacturer's load schedule pile-by-pile. Helix blades carry the uplift loads inherent to tracker systems — capacity that would otherwise require oversized rammed posts or concrete pads.
Installation in winter
Installation ran in Nordic winter conditions. GPS-guided positioning ensured each pile met the tracker structural alignment tolerances. Torque-based load verification was recorded for every pile, providing as-built documentation that supported the structural sign-off.
Results
The 1.5 MWp plant was foundation-complete on schedule. Tracker geometry, load case and install method all proven in Nordic winter conditions.
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