Schletter’s ground mounted FS System provides a proven track record with many utility-sized solar installations across the globe. The foundation of the FS System is a pile driven galvanized steel post; the remainder of the materials consisting of lightweight, highly pre-assembled aluminum components. When complete, the mounting systems will consist of nearly 22,000,000 pounds of steel and aluminum. This remarkable 150 MW PV system incorporates Schletter’s Rapid2+ pre-assembled module clamps with an integrated grounding pin (ETL listed), dramatically reducing the module installation time and module grounding costs.
“To be involved in a project of this size with our valued client as the EPC is as rewarding as it gets in this industry,” says Ed Grover, Strategic Alliance Manager of Schletter Inc. Mr. Grover goes on to say that “I anticipate nothing but complete success for this project. Schletter is proud to be chosen as a key supply partner for this project.”
The mounting system design for this project includes the utilization of proprietary wind tunnel testing for ground mount solar PV systems, performed at a reputable independent testing facility. Exterior and interior rack zones were identified and designed according to the results of this testing. Loads at the single module were investigated by considering the wind shadow effects and their correlation given the direction of the wind. The ultimate result is the minimization of the cost of the mounting structures by considering rack positions within a large solar field.