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The Osprey PowerRACK® is Engineered for Speed

No geotechnical reports, no concrete — just fast, efficient installs on any terrain with patented earth anchor foundation technology.

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The Osprey PowerRACK®

Engineered for speed and adaptability, the Osprey PowerRACK® uses our multi-patented earth anchor foundation technology to tackle the toughest terrain and deliver residential solar installers’ ground mount solar projects in record time without the need for geotechnical reports, concrete, or heavy machinery.

With mobilization, installation, and real-time pull testing in one day, the Osprey PowerRACK® lets you stay in control of your install schedule, avoiding costly delays and reducing project risk with predictable labor costs.

The Osprey PowerRACK® is more affordable than traditional racking solutions with much lower labor costs, minimal upfront investment for tools, and turnkey engineering services.

 

What is an Earth Anchor?

Earth anchors are not ground screws nor helical piles, so there is no need for heavy equipment. They have been used for over 100 years to stabilize structures like retaining walls and high-tension power lines. Earth anchors are extremely strong, versatile, and fully capable of handling harsh conditions like frost heave, permafrost, desert hardpan, red clay, and even winds up to 185 mph.

Unlike helical piles and ground screws, earth anchors do not require concrete and can be installed with basic handheld tools. There is zero disruption to the residential job site. Compact and nimble, they are about the size of a cell phone and provide a much faster, more economical installation than traditional solar foundation types, while maintaining the same level of holding capacity.

Nuance Energy is a trailblazer in the solar industry and the only OEM offering earth anchor foundation technology with real-time soil condition pull “load” testing, making solar installations faster, more affordable, and accessible to all.

Check out our article in Solar Power World to learn more.

 

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An “inverted cone of soil above an earth anchor” refers to the shape of the soil mass that is compressed and provides resistance when an earth anchor is installed, forming a cone-like shape with the point downwards, where the anchor is located, and the wider base extending upwards into the surrounding soil; essentially, the soil above the anchor is pushed together, creating a zone of increased resistance to upward movement.

Key points about the inverted cone of soil:

  • Mechanism:
    When an earth anchor is pulled upwards, it compresses the soil directly above it, causing the soil particles to interlock and resist further movement, forming this cone-shaped zone of compacted soil.
  • Importance in anchor design:
    This cone of resistance is crucial for the holding power of an earth anchor, as the larger the cone, the greater the resistance to pulling forces.
  • Factors affecting the cone shape:
    The size and shape of the cone depend on the soil type, the anchor design, and the installation depth.
  • Terminology:
    This compacted soil zone is sometimes referred to as a “frustum cone” in technical literature, as it is a truncated cone shape.

Installation is EASY with the Osprey PowerRACK®

STEP 1: Site Prep

Measure and assess the site to determine the foundation kit and base plate locations.

STEP 2: Install Earth Anchor foundations

Next, drive the earth anchors into the ground through each base plate with standard tools like a SDS rotary hammer drill and drive rod — no concrete, heavy machinery, or specialized labor required.

STEP 3: Real-time Soil Condition “Anchor Load Tension” Testing

Load test each earth anchor using our patented installation tool, the Osprey TALONTM (sold separately by Nuance Energy). Load test each Anchor to 1.5X the local AHJ design load safety factor to ensure compliance and fast approval.

For more details, watch our installation video here.

STEP 4: Assemble the Osprey PowerRACK® & Panels

Review any project specific construction plans, our installation guide & our best practices document to complete installation of the Osprey PowerRACK®

Single day mobilization and installation

Mobilize to your job site with all solar racking materials for your solar (PV) system on the same day. Finish ground mount solar installs up to 4X faster by eliminating concrete, heavy machinery, and multiple AHJ inspections that can take weeks.

Accurately forecast residential solar project costs with predictable labor costs

Faster installs mean fewer trips to the job site and less crew hours, saving on labor with predictable solar project costs. Risk is mitigated with your costs mostly attributed to material.

The Osprey PowerRACK® has an average labor cost of $0.025/W for a residential solar project install.

Control your installation schedule

Install on your own time and terms without waiting for heavy machinery or specialized labor to become available. Mobilize just one time for installation and inspection.

Minimal disruption to homeowner sites

The Osprey PowerRACK® is installed with handheld tools (no heavy machinery or concrete), and our solar racking’s small footprint preserves the homeowner’s yard, perfect for keeping your residential clients happy. Lift and shift the asset by detaching the earth anchor foundation technology to easily remove or relocate as needed.

Custom pre-engineered turnkey solution

Receive fully engineered plan sets (electrical stamp and structural stamp) within 24-48 hours for standard* fixed-tilt ground mount solar projects. Design/layouts, site-specific memos (SSM), and construction drawings are available for an extra fee. *For more complex projects outside of standard scope, turnaround times for engineering services may be longer.

Pre-kitted for high efficiency

The only solar racking system in the world where our foundations fit inside a box. The entire array arrives pre-engineered and pre-assembled with delivery in a standard 14’ dry van. No need to rent a flatbed as the longest component is only 98 inches.

Build anywhere

All-terrain adaptability enabled by earth anchor foundation technology and independently power adjustable legs for easy installation in adverse conditions, such as sand, limestone, desert hardpan, rock, or frost heave — allowing you to build where others cannot.

Install by hand

Residential solar installers love the Osprey PowerRACK®’s ease of installation. Using basic hand tools, like a rotary hammer drill, solar contractors save on specialized labor costs, no heavy machinery rentals, and equipment insurance.

Year-round installation

Don’t let winter slow you down — install through snow, ice, and tough winter soil conditions without worrying about unforeseen underground conditions like water, granite, bedrock, frost heave, or permafrost.

Qualify for domestic content tax credit

The Osprey PowerRACK® is built with Made-in-USA steel for its major components and qualifies for the IRA’s 10% Domestic Content Tax Credit. Improve project economics by taking advantage of available tax credits while supporting sustainable, local supply chains.

Approved vendor for TPO financing

Homeowners can now install solar with zero upfront costs through third-party owner (TPO) financing. With USA-made components, Nuance Energy enables TPO funding groups to finance residential ground mount projects that qualify for the IRA’s 10% Domestic Tax Credit.

The Future of Ground Mount Solar is Here

With an almost cult-like following, the Osprey PowerRACK® is the industry’s only leading modular, pre-engineered residential ground mount solar racking system.

It’s more versatile, simpler, faster, and less expensive than other foundation options — from procurement through construction and even decommissioning — setting a new standard for efficiency and flexibility in solar installations.

With Osprey PowerRACK®’s same-day installations, residential solar installers can meet tight project deadlines and recognize revenue faster.

The Osprey PowerRACK® is Engineered for Speed.

Testimonials

“This project went from being one of our most difficult ground mount installations to becoming our easiest and fastest ever.”

— Alex Pugh, Operations Director of Energy Concepts

“We definitely have used your product in the past and seen the savings in installation time firsthand. It is a great solution for many of our projects.”

— Andy O’Reilly, Sr. Project Manager of PPC Solar (Paradise Power Company)

Grow Your Residential Solar Business with the Osprey PowerRACK®

Capture more market share, faster with the Osprey PowerRACK®’s streamlined pre-engineered modular racking kits, featuring innovative earth anchor foundation technology for rapid deployment.

  • Pre-engineered for fast, one-day mobilization and install
  • No geotechnical reports, no concrete, and no heavy machinery
  • Low upfront investment for tooling
  • Pre-kitted for modularity and efficiency
  • Minimal site disruption to homeowners’ backyards
  • Save significantly on labor costs with faster, simpler installs
  • More predictable project costs, with most of the cost in material
  • Qualify for the IRA’s domestic content tax credit
  • Approved vendor for TPO residential financing with zero upfront costs
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FAQ

Q. How does the Osprey PowerRACK® help me finish installs faster?
Q: Can I install the Osprey PowerRACK® in any soil conditions?
Q: What is the estimated labor cost ($/W) for residential installations?
Q: Do you sell your product through distribution?
Q: Do I really have to perform an uplift test on every anchor that gets installed?
Q: Can your racking system follow the slope of the terrain?
Q: Does your racking system require any special tools to install properly?
Q: Can the Osprey PowerRACK® accommodate larger solar modules?
Q: Does the Osprey PowerRACK® qualify for the Domestic Content Tax Credit?
Q. How does the Osprey PowerRACK® help me finish installs faster?

A: This incredibly simple solar racking system deploys modular, pre-kitted components that are fast to assemble offering repeatable steps. The multi-patented earth anchor foundation technology eliminates the need for geotech reports, concrete, and heavy machines. And with the use of simple handheld power tools, the Osprey PowerRACK® allows your crews to install the complete solar array (racking, foundations, panels, and load test anchors) in hours, not weeks.

Q: Can I install the Osprey PowerRACK® in any soil conditions?

A: Yes, this solar racking system offers various earth anchor sizes, cable types, and wedge grip styles depending on the uplift capacity required.

For soft soil, you have two options:

  1. Add more of the same anchors at lesser values per anchor.
  2. Change to larger anchors to achieve the overall pre-engineered uplift requirements.

We also have expandable rock anchors for bedrock applications, engineering for concrete applications, and engineering for ground screw foundations (if required).

Q: What is the estimated labor cost ($/W) for residential installations?

A: The Osprey PowerRACK® has an average labor cost of $0.025/W for residential installs by reducing the need for specialized installers, heavy machinery, and multiple trips to the job site.

Q: Do you sell your product through distribution?

A: Yes, our racking system is available at many Greentech Renewable locations.

Q: Do I really have to perform an uplift test on every anchor that gets installed?

A: Yes, third-party professional engineers require a site-specific load requirement be met on each foundation, whether using single or multiple earth anchors.

Q: Can your racking system follow the slope of the terrain?

A: Our racking system can be installed as a table or, in some cases, connected together. Due to its structural design and foundation method, all racks must remain squared, level, and plumb. Slopes greater than 8 degrees east to west will likely require stepping down each solar array as you go.

Q: Does your racking system require any special tools to install properly?

A: Nuance Energy sells custom drive rods, drill bits, and cable tension tools. We also sell the patented Osprey TALONTM, an innovative construction tool specifically designed to pull “load” test earth anchors with minimal manual effort.

Q: Can the Osprey PowerRACK® accommodate larger solar modules?

Yes, it supports large modules up to 700+W (96 inches x 51 inches).

Q: Does the Osprey PowerRACK® qualify for the Domestic Content Tax Credit?

Yes, we proudly use American-made steel for our major components and qualify for the IRA’s 10% Domestic Content Tax Credit.

20 year warranty

Patented earth anchor design

ISO/UL certifications (UL 2703)

Winner of Solar Power World’s Top Product 2017
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