Modular substructure systems for solar parks

Solar panels occupy an important place in the energy transition. Besides installations on roofs, more and more solar parks are being constructed, both on land and on water. Voestalpine Sadef is market leader in the Benelux in terms of steel substructure systems for these PV installations and has a standardized solution for various applications. Among other things, the company is known as a supplier for the substructure construction of the largest solar park in the Netherlands in Goeree-Overflakkee.

Voestalpine is an Austrian steel producer, operates worldwide and has three sites in the Benelux that supply steel products for the construction, automotive and solar industries, as well as customized profiles for all kinds of applications. Voestalpine Sadef in Gits (B) produces cold-rolled steel profiles on as many as 35 profiling lines. "We supply steel profiles as open section or tubular profiles, light and assembly-friendly and, if desired, with powder coating as the final layer," says Henk Poleyn, Commercial Manager Solar of voestalpine Sadef. "One of our specializations is the production of modular substructure systems for solar panels."

Standardized solutions

For small and medium-sized solar installations, Sadef has developed three standardized system solutions that they supply from stock; FlexRoof, FlexPark and FlexField. Henk Poleyn explains: "By FlexRoof we mean a pre-engineered solar structure made of steel profiles for flat roofs with distributed ballast. This system is suitable for flat or slightly sloped roofs, both for a south and east/west arrangement. The system has low dilation and perfect water and snow drainage. FlexPark is also a pre-engineered solar structure but for quick construction of carports. It is based on prefabricated foundations with a "meccano" package of standard Sadef construction profiles. Finally, FlexField means standard solutions for small ground projects up to a thousand panels. The tables can each support ten, eighteen or twenty-four modules with an adjustable slope from 15 to 35 degrees. Different types of modules are possible. This structure requires a limited number of components, guaranteeing short delivery times."

50 MW solar farm

In addition to standardized solutions, Sadef also specializes in large free-field systems. "We are known as a supplier of large solar parks," says Henk Poleyn. "For example, our engineering department in Gits developed the substructure construction for the largest solar park in the Netherlands. The solar park in Goeree-Overflakkee will soon have 170,000 panels that will collectively generate 50 MW of electricity. The biggest challenge was the unstable clayey subsoil and the short assembly time. Thanks to our unique substructure construction with FastSlide rails, the assembly time was just three months. In that short time frame, a total of 3,000 tons of steel was processed. Whether it's a system solution or a unique project like in Goeree-Overflakkee, with our cold rolled steel profiles we always offer an efficient basis for the transition to a more sustainable society."  

Text | Roel van Gils   Image | voestalpine Sadef nv
Featured image: Voestalpine Sadef has developed the substructure construction for the largest solar park in the Netherlands in Goeree-Overflakkee.