Soil and Thermal Resistivity Survey in Hermosa, Bataan

Client: Solana, Solar Corporation

Location: Hermosa, Bataan

Geographical map: Hermosa, Bataan. Source: Google Maps

Without accurate soil data, the success of Hermosa’s landmark solar farm project could be at risk. Our client needed to create a large-scale solar farm — the Solana Solar Project — to fuel the growing energy demands of Hermosa, Bataan. With 30 hectares of land strategically located just 350 meters from the Hermosa substation of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), the site is ideal for supporting Hermosa’s sustainable development plans. Source: Alterenergy

Groundsolv Employees setting up the Geo-resistivity Equipment on the Field.

However, the project's success hinges on a critical but often overlooked factor: the thermal and geotechnical behavior of the soil. Soil conditions across the site are highly variable, with very soft soils and a high water table posing major design and construction challenges. Without proper assessment, there's a high risk that underground power cables could overheat — leading to reduced transmission efficiency, system failures, or even cable melting.

Skipping proper soil and thermal resistivity surveys might seem like a time-saver, but it introduces massive long-term risks, including costly repairs, operational downtime, and premature infrastructure failure. Source: Solarpowerworldonline

Conducting comprehensive thermal resistivity surveys upfront involves significant investment in time and resources. However, skipping this step risks premature cable failures or system inefficiencies, leading to higher long-term costs. The area is characterized by very soft soils and a very high-water table, posing significant challenges for the project and the need to conduct a soil and thermal resistivity survey for solar foundation design has become critical.

Groundsolv employees checking the layout of the location to confirm coordinates to be used in the geo resistivity survey.

Geotechnical investigations, including soil borings and field testing, provide subsurface profiles that help identify suitable foundation types based on soil characteristics like cohesion, density, and stratification.  Source: Solar farm foundations

It is also helpful for the Design engineers in the design optimization of the location. By simulating field conditions in a lab (e.g., compacting soil samples), thermal surveys ensure conduit systems meet heat dissipation requirements under varying moisture conditions.

Groundsolv Employee performing a soil survey on the test pit that was created on the location.

Our Team led by Engr. Kristian with a decade of experience on the field and technical expertise on what scenarios it may play out went to the location. Equipped with advanced soil and thermal resistivity technology, we navigated the challenging terrain of Hermosa. Our mission was clear: to gather accurate data that could inform the design of solar foundations in this difficult environment. Despite the challenges posed by the region's soft soils and high water table, our determination remained unwavering.

Our team conducted comprehensive thermal resistivity surveys and geotechnical investigations. Through soil borings and field testing, we developed detailed subsurface profiles — identifying soil cohesion, density, stratification, and moisture behavior.

Groundsolv employees setting up the geo-resistivity equipment to conduct a survey on the field.

Through further surveys and assessments, we demonstrated that our equipment is highly capable of conducting surveys in difficult soil conditions. We successfully gathered the necessary data to support the solar foundation design, providing much-needed insights for the project.

Groundsolv employees conducting the survey on various points of the site.

Key Insights

• Very Soft Soils: The soft soils in Hermosa presented a significant challenge, but our advanced technology allowed us to gather accurate data.

• Data Scarcity: The lack of extensive previous studies meant we were exploring largely uncharted territory.

• Survey Challenges: The high water table added another layer of complexity to our mission.

• Innovative Solutions: One of the most valuable lessons from this project was the effectiveness of our advanced equipment in overcoming the challenges posed by the difficult soil conditions.

  

  Groundsolv employees checking equipment readings of the geo resistivity equipment.

Our journey in Hermosa is just the beginning. As we continue to explore and innovate, we invite you to follow our progress and share your thoughts. How can we further refine our methods? What other regions could benefit from similar surveys? Let's collaborate to ensure a sustainable future for solar energy projects. If you need any further modifications or additional information, feel free to let me know!