Solar equipment supplier Valsa Trading announced that it supplied its locally designed and manufactured solar photovoltaic (PV) ground mounting structures to a large mine in the Northern Cape in December.

The mounting structures are designed and manufactured to provide a “quick-install, secure structure” for solar PV panel ground installations when only ground space can be used.

“Our locally manufactured ground mounting solutions are an ideal option when roof space is not available or when only ground space can be used, and is particularly suited to mining applications,” says Valsa Trading MD Svilen Voychev.

The modular design reduces the number of components and is universal, suitable for all sizes of solar PV panels and can accommodate various configurations from four to 80 panels per table, in a portrait orientation, with a fixed tilt angle.

This allows for the installation to be set at a perfect angle to optimise energy production.

He adds that the choice of the best ground mounting solution is influenced by the soil composition – either standard footing for concrete strip foundations, pile driving or standard footing for concrete slab installations.

“For larger installation, steel piles are rammed into the ground. The thickness, length and depth of the piles depends on the soil composition, [which is] confirmed through geological survey results.

“The adequate size pile will be specified [through] the engineering simulation [completed to determine] the site conditions,” Voychev points out.

Further, where the soil is not suited for piles, an anchor system can be used in the form of a concrete strip foundation or a concrete slab. This system is often used in commercial installations where ground penetration is not permitted or for smaller size installations.

The mounting structures meet structural engineering requirements and have been designed and manufactured to international standards and are in line with South African National Standard regulations.

Boasting offices in Namibia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Botswana and Swaziland, Valsa Trading’s head office and manufacturing facility is based in Johannesburg, supplying solar PV mounting systems and related PV products throughout Southern Africa.

He concludes that Valsa designs, manufactures and supplies mounting system solutions for all types of roofs, carports, ground, pole, facade, floating and tensile cable applications.