One (more) contribution of concrete for the reduction of GHG

Solar energy is one of the most common clean energies and one of the most recognized paths towards the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). Despite the fact of being commonly associated to house use and somehow low power outputs, the development of production technology has enabled to clear the way into industrial uses in a very successful way.

Solar panels are the most critical elements for the success of a project but a poor settlement and a defective orientation can hinder the performance in a very sensitive way.

At the same time, maintenance must be very low so as the environmental benefits of the clean energy may not be put at stake due to the impacts related to those tasks. 

PRESDOURO Home | Presdouro has built a solid reputation as a precast concrete producer of quite current elements but the innovation expertise of their staff continues to be surprising. This is the case of the solar panel supports they have recently designed and which have already been used in several facilities.

The appearance of the solution  

This supports represent an entirely different solution with respect to the traditional one – panels supported by a steel framework -   based on two of the most well known essential features of concrete: stability and lack of maintenance.

When the supports are meant to be placed on natural ground a logical question that can be raised is about the angle at which the panels must be set in order to harness the most power.

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Simplified technical scheme  

PRESDOURO overcome that issue with a rather ingenious solution based on a half-moon shape two-piece set that interlocks on a bottom piece thanks to a cogged fitting system. Setting an angle between 5 and 30º degrees can be done subsequently.

The upper half-moon shape set requires two pieces as a single piece would be too large for the forms and compacting devices. Those two pieces interlock with a male-female connection.

Producing these pieces is obviously more demanding as the simple existence of connections -between the two upper parts at a first stage- and with the bottom one – at a second - requires meeting very strict tolerances on the dimensional point of view. It´s not a current challenge for precast concrete producers.

The placement of the supports

Such a concrete made solution is the finest complement for solar production as it uses abundant raw materials produced in Portugal within a few kilometres, doesn’t need any maintenance (painting or coating) and is prone for recycling or material recovery.

The installation of the panels

Beyond that, foundations or any other preparatory works related to steel framework securing may be discarded. Although of small importance these are also avoided environmental impacts.

When the supports are used by manufacturer himself, setting up his own solar power plant, the environmental benefit comes to double. This is the case of VILAGE (a company within PRESDOURO holdings) that built a 68,4 kW solar park which fulfils 30% of its electrical power demands and is a decisive push in its path towards decarbonisation of the national industry.

A completed project

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A completed project