The Foundation of Utility-Scale Solar, with Alice Thomas & Seif Gomaa

In this episode of Watt Matters we sit down with Alice Thomas and Seif Gomaa from Solarport Systems, a UK-based manufacturer delivering ground-mount solar solutions across the UK and Europe. Together we explore what really goes on beneath the solar panels — from foundation engineering and site investigations to design optimisation, documentation standards, and emerging innovations like AI-driven workflows, trackers and carport systems.

As projects grow in scale and complexity, mounting structures are not just a logistical detail — they are strategic drivers of cost, durability, yield and ultimately project bankability. Alice and Seif walk us through why early-stage due diligence, flexible foundation options, and strong supply-chain relationships increasingly differentiate successful solar developments from risky ones.

Takeaways

• Local manufacturing dramatically reduces lead times and enables rapid spare-part support.
• Offering multiple foundation types (pile, ballast, gabion, X-anchor, etc.) makes even challenging terrain viable.
• Thorough geotechnical and topographical site investigations — including corrosion assessment and pull-out tests — are critical for long-term structural integrity.
• Documentation, code validation and traceability have become non-negotiable requirements for developers and investors.
• High-quality structural steel (e.g. S450 with advanced coatings) and tailored engineering can extend system life well beyond the traditional 25 years.
• Detailed 3-D layouts and topography-aware designs help avoid shading, grading or pile-clash issues — improving yield, constructability and bankability.
• Automation and AI are beginning to support repetitive tasks and QC processes — freeing up engineers to focus on design decisions and risk assessment.
• Tech is evolving: tracker systems and carport-mounted installations are among future growth areas for mounting providers like Solarport.

Chapters (timestamps are approximate)

00:00 – Intro & context: why mounting systems matter

03:30 – Guest introductions: roles & motivations

05:00 – The advantage of being a UK-based manufacturer

07:30 – Evolution of site scale and foundation options

10:00 – Changes in design standards, warranty & longevity expectations

13:00 – Importance of site investigations, documentation and risk transparency

15:30 – How layout optimisation impacts yield and cost

18:00 – Project planning discipline: procurement & data quality

22:00 – Challenges: soil variability, archaeology, unexpected ground conditions

24:30 – Expanding from UK into EU: matching regional standards

26:00 – Use of AI and automation in engineering workflows

29:30 – Future of mounting: trackers, carports and continuous innovation

34:30 – Final thoughts: advice for developers & EPCs

To learn more about accelerating solar project success and how PVcase supports developers from design to delivery, visit www.pvcase.com.