Solar farms represent a pivotal shift towards renewable energy sources, offering sustainable power solutions while reducing environmental impact.
Behind the scenes of these vast arrays of solar panels lies a meticulous process of testing and analysis to ensure the stability and reliability of the infrastructure.
The primary focus of testing for Solar farms revolves around understanding the soil composition and its suitability for supporting solar infrastructure.
Thermal resistivity testing is a crucial process for many industries due to its significant impact on material performance, safety, and efficiency.
Specialised Capability
Civiltest has teams located across Australia allowing them to work in remote locations.
At the beginning of a project when the client marks the area, Civiltest drill boreholes and perform in-situ testing which will provide vital insights into the soil characteristics.
Specialised Equipment:
- TR3 - Sensor Kit for Soil and Other Granular Porous Materials
- RK-3 Rock Sensor
Testing and Consulting
Thermal resistivity testing (NATA accredited to ASTM D5334-22a)
- Standard Penetration Test (SPT), offering valuable data on soil consistency essential for structural design.
- Thermal Resistivity testing evaluating the soil’s ability to transfer heat, which is crucial for cabling systems beneath the panels.
- Aggressivity Testing to ensure the durability of materials against harmful environments, which is vital for the longevity of solar farm components.
- Electrical Resistivity testing to further refined cable design considerations, optimising performance and reliability in varying soil conditions.
- Atterberg Limits Testing offering insights into critical water content of fine-grained soil types, essential for informed decision-making throughout the project lifecycle.
Sometimes the below further test are required to provide soil parameters in the design of pavements, which for solar farms is typically for access roads within site.
- CBR (California Bearing Ratio)
- Maximum Dry Densities (MDD)
- Optimum Moisture Content (OMC)
Featured Projects
- Darlington Point Grid Scale Battery Storage System
- Carawatha Grid Scale Solar Farm
- Walla Walla Grid Scale Solar Farm
- Uranquinty Solar Farm
- Deniliquin Solar Plant
- Jerilderie Solar Farm
- Midkin Cotton Gin Solar Farm
Contact Civiltest today to discuss your requirements