Ground-mount solar PV systems use driven piles, screw anchors, or concrete foundations to support racking structures carrying the PV array at a fixed tilt angle. Structural engineering for ground-mount systems covers foundation design, racking frame analysis under combined dead, wind, and snow loads, and geotechnical assessment of the ground conditions at the pile or anchor locations.
Ground-mount systems are subject to planning permission for most commercial installations in the UK, and may require Environmental Impact Assessment for larger schemes. The structural engineering scope is distinct from rooftop assessments but follows the same Eurocode framework for wind, snow, and dead load calculation. Solar Surveys provides structural feasibility assessment for ground-mount commercial solar projects.