^ KRINNER perfects foundations for solar power plants

26.05.2014

With its self-developed special machines and tailor-made solutions, the KRINNER company from Lower Bavaria, Germany, provides ground screw foundations for PV power plants throughout the world. GPS-controlled robots measure the site fully automatically and then precisely anchor the screws. This therefore enables special mounting frames to be erected within the shortest possible time: without concrete, completely sustainably and efficiently. These innovative machines are adapted to the local conditions and can be used for almost all ground conditions. The family-owned business will be presenting its latest robots, equipment, ground screws and mounting systems in Hall C3 370 and at its 100 FG stand on the outside site at the Intersolar trade exhibition, which is taking place from 4 to 6 June 2014 in Munich.

Krinner Schraubfundamente GmbH is currently constructing ground-mounted photovoltaic systems in several countries across the globe. KRINNER successfully weathered the collapse of the solar market in Germany in 2012 and has actually managed to expand its activities in recent years, particularly internationally. Its proportion of foreign business has now increased to 75 per cent. Instead of concreting in foundations in a manner harmful to the environment, KRINNER drives galvanised screws into the ground – which is one hundred per cent environmentally friendly and absolutely secure. It is also quick and efficient, which in turn also considerably reduces the installation costs. After all, the aim is to help generate energy that is as economic, ecological and sustainable as possible, says Klaus Krinner in summing up.

Innovative machines provide tailor-made solutions

For this purpose the family-owned business has developed a diverse range of special machines that provides the customers with tailor-made solutions. “Innovation is our daily business,” emphasises the founder and self-made man, Klaus Krinner. Drones first of all measure out the site for kilometre-long ground-mounted systems. Robots then install the foundations in almost all soil types, whereby this can be monitored in real time from any office in the world and several steps can be executed simultaneously. Finally, screw-in machines drive the screws into the ground on which the mounting solutions are erected. The ground is not sealed. All that then needs to be done is to mount the solar modules. This enables KRINNER to install between two and four megawatts peak each day. This therefore makes laborious concreting entirely redundant.

Sustainable high technology instead of nuclear power or coal

The company has to date installed more than 1,500 megawatts peak (MWp) of solar power throughout the world. That’s enough to supply a major city or replace five coal-fired power plants or a large nuclear power plant, sums up Thomas Mayer, Managing Director of Krinner Schraubfundamente GmbH. “We’ve developed special high-tech machines for this purpose and have so far filed over 150 patents. We’re currently mostly relying on the KRM surveying and drilling robot, the KRD 55 screw-in machine and the KRT installation robot,” says Mayer. KRINNER is only able to achieve such an excellent performance thanks to its continuous further development of machines and technology.

Gänsdorf Solar Park is mounted on KRINNER foundations

One of KRINNER’s flagship projects was already installed five years ago in Gänsdorf in Lower Bavaria. More than 50,000 screws were driven into the ground, 240,000 modules were installed and 120 acres were covered – all without concrete and with a total capacity of 54 megawatts peak. This size corresponds to about 270 football fields. “We installed the plant within just four months. Despite an enormous amount of rain we managed to work extremely quickly and precisely,” reports the company’s owner, Klaus Krinner.

Successful expansion of the international market

Since last year, KRINNER has in particular been stepping up its business in overseas sales regions. The aim is to increase the foreign proportion of business by up to 90 per cent. “We’re expanding our activities throughout the world. We are currently concentrating on the growing solar power industry in North and South America, Asia and Europe,” explains Marketing Director Benedikt Grimm, “whereby the current focus is on giant solar power projects in France, Japan and Chile.”

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