Solar energy is no longer just about putting panels on residential roofs. Large ground-mounted solar arrays are increasingly being considered for industrial facilities, data centers, AI infrastructure, and cryptocurrency mining operations—projects where electricity is not just an operating expense, but one of the biggest factors determining whether the business model works.
We recently supplied American Ground Screw (AGS) earth anchors for a customer using a solar installation to help power a Bitcoin mining farm. It is a great example of how two rapidly growing industries—renewable energy and high-performance computing—are coming together, and why the foundation underneath a solar array deserves more attention than it normally gets.
For projects like this, concrete isn't always the best answer. An engineered ground screw foundation can dramatically simplify construction while providing the documentation, load capacity, and installation flexibility required for serious commercial solar projects.
Why Bitcoin Mining Farms Are Looking at Solar Power
Bitcoin mining is an energy-intensive operation. Hundreds or thousands of specialized mining computers can operate continuously, converting electrical power into computing power while simultaneously creating a significant cooling load.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, cryptocurrency mining operations can consume significant amounts of electricity, and many mining facilities participate in demand-response programs that reduce power consumption when grid demand or electricity pricing rises. Read the EIA's analysis of cryptocurrency mining electricity demand
That makes solar particularly interesting.
A properly designed solar installation can provide a mining facility with a source of on-site electricity during daylight hours, reducing the amount of electricity that must be purchased from the grid. Depending on the system, solar can be combined with grid power, battery storage, generators, or other energy sources to create a more resilient energy strategy.
Bitcoin mining also has an advantage that many conventional industrial facilities don't: mining loads can be relatively flexible. Machines can potentially be throttled or shut down when electricity becomes expensive and operated more aggressively when inexpensive or surplus power is available.
The result is a potentially useful marriage between solar generation and flexible computing demand.
AI Data Centers Are Facing the Same Energy Challenge
Bitcoin isn't the only computing industry hunting for electricity.
Artificial intelligence is driving enormous growth in data-center power requirements. The U.S. Department of Energy reports that U.S. data centers consumed approximately 4.4% of the country's electricity in 2023, with newer DOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory projections showing their share could climb substantially by the end of the decade. Explore the Department of Energy's AI and data-center energy research
AI training clusters require tremendous amounts of computing power, which means electricity, cooling, electrical infrastructure, and access to new generation capacity are becoming major site-selection considerations.
Solar isn't necessarily a stand-alone 24/7 power source for an AI data center—sunlight still has the inconvenient habit of disappearing every evening—but it can become an important component of a larger power strategy incorporating the grid, batteries and other generation resources.
Whether the end user is training an AI model or mining Bitcoin, one thing is clear: high-performance computing needs a lot of power, and businesses are looking for new ways to produce it.
Ground-Mounted Solar Needs a Serious Foundation
All those photovoltaic modules, rails, pipes, trackers, and electrical components have to connect to something.
Traditional ground-mounted solar systems can use concrete foundations, driven piles, helical systems, or other engineered foundations depending on the soil, equipment, loading, engineering, and project requirements.
That's where American Ground Screw becomes particularly interesting.
AGS ground screws are mechanically installed into the soil using low-speed, high-torque equipment. Unlike a conventional concrete footing, there is no large hole to excavate, concrete to mix or deliver, or curing period before construction continues.
American Ground Screw specifically engineers ground screw solutions for solar installations and states that its systems are compatible with major 2-inch and 3-inch rigid-pipe solar racking systems. Learn more about American Ground Screw solar foundations
For a large solar field, eliminating hundreds of individual concrete foundation operations can translate into substantial differences in site disturbance, logistics, scheduling, and labor.
Why ICC-ES Evaluation Matters on a Commercial Solar Project
Fast installation is great. On a commercial project, however, "trust us, it's strong" generally doesn't get very far with the engineer or building department.
One of the biggest advantages of American Ground Screw is its technical documentation.
AGS Ground Screw Systems have been evaluated in ICC-ES Evaluation Report ESR-4226. The report evaluates structural and geotechnical performance and addresses the system's ability to transfer axial compression, axial tension, and lateral loads from supported structures into surrounding soil. Review American Ground Screw code-compliance information View ICC-ES ESR
That's an important distinction when comparing foundation products.
An ICC-ES Evaluation Report gives engineers, architects, contractors, and code officials third-party technical information they can use during design and plan review. Actual suitability and approval still depend on the specific project, soil conditions, loads, installation, engineering, and local authority having jurisdiction.
In other words, AGS isn't simply selling a giant steel screw and saying, "It'll probably hold."
There is engineering behind the system.
American Ground Screws Can Speed Up Solar Construction
Construction schedules matter on energy projects because every day a generating asset isn't operating is another day it isn't producing electricity.
AGS installation eliminates several steps associated with conventional concrete footings. Ground screws are driven directly into properly evaluated soil and, when correctly installed for the application, can be loaded immediately rather than waiting for concrete to cure.
Other potential benefits include:
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Less excavation and displaced soil
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No concrete curing period
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Reduced site disturbance
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Installation using high-torque equipment
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Removable or reusable foundation components in appropriate applications
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Multiple screw and connection configurations
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Compatibility with commercial solar racking systems
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Documented structural and geotechnical evaluation for covered AGS systems
For large solar fields, repeating those advantages across dozens, hundreds, or potentially thousands of foundation locations can make ground screws particularly attractive.
Choosing the Right American Ground Screw for Solar
Ground screw selection should always be based on engineering rather than simply choosing the biggest screw available.
American Ground Screw offers several configurations, including its versatile Model 3 system. The Model 3 uses three welded nuts and set bolts that allow compatible pipes and insertable flanges to be connected to the foundation.
Tolutions Supply stocks the American Ground Screw Model 3 ICC-evaluated ground screw as part of our expanding selection of American Ground Screw foundation systems and installation components.
Soil classification, frost depth, axial loads, lateral loads, uplift, screw diameter, depth, installation torque, racking configuration, and project-specific engineering all matter. The solar racking manufacturer and project engineer should ultimately determine the appropriate foundation configuration.
Solar, Bitcoin, AI—and the Infrastructure Underneath It All
The interesting part of our recent Bitcoin mining project wasn't simply selling ground screws.
It demonstrated where construction is heading.
Solar developers, Bitcoin miners, AI companies, data-center developers, electrical contractors, and infrastructure companies are increasingly crossing paths. All of them are trying to solve a similar problem: how do we build large amounts of new energy and computing infrastructure quickly, economically, and responsibly?
Sometimes innovation starts with an advanced GPU or a new generation of mining hardware.
Sometimes it starts with the thing holding the solar panels out of the dirt.
For contractors and developers considering ground-mounted solar, American Ground Screws offer a concrete-free foundation alternative backed by engineering documentation, commercial-scale options, and a foundation system already designed with solar installations in mind.
Tolutions Supply can help contractors, developers, and solar installers source the appropriate AGS products, flanges, installation components, and equipment for projects ranging from small solar arrays to significant commercial installations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can American Ground Screws be used for solar panels?
Yes. American Ground Screw specifically supports ground-mounted solar applications and offers foundation solutions designed to connect with common rigid-pipe solar racking systems. Product selection must still account for soil conditions, loads, engineering, and racking-system requirements.
Are American Ground Screws ICC compliant?
Covered AGS Ground Screw Systems have been evaluated by ICC-ES under ESR-4226 for specified structural and geotechnical applications. The report addresses compliance with the codes and conditions identified in the report. Final project approval remains subject to engineering requirements and the local authority having jurisdiction.
Are ground screws better than concrete for solar installations?
They can be. Ground screws eliminate concrete curing, reduce excavation, are immediately loadable after proper installation, and can reduce site disturbance. The best foundation depends on soil conditions, engineering, project scale, loads, equipment, and economics.
Can a Bitcoin mining farm run entirely on solar?
Technically, a system can be designed around solar, but continuous Bitcoin mining generally requires consideration of nighttime operation and periods of low solar production. Many projects therefore use solar alongside grid electricity, battery storage, or other generation sources.
Why does solar make sense for Bitcoin mining and AI infrastructure?
Both industries require significant amounts of electricity. On-site solar generation can offset some grid consumption, diversify energy supply, and provide additional generating capacity at facilities with large electrical loads. Bitcoin mining can also offer relatively flexible loads that may be adjusted in response to electricity availability or pricing.
Where can I buy American Ground Screws for a commercial solar project?
Tolutions Supply carries American Ground Screws, foundation components, flanges, adapters, and installation equipmentand can assist contractors and developers with product selection and larger project requirements.
