SOFT-SPOT® Foundation

The SOFT-SPOT® was developed by CTE Wind’s engineering team and is used in several countries around the world. This foundation design optimises the bill of quantities by saving concrete and reinforcement steel, but also on earthworks by reducing the diameter of the foundation. It is easy to construct and does not change the design of the gravity foundation. A patent has been granted..

CTE Wind has already developed and implemented several projects since the launch of the SOFT-SPOT®. More than 1500 new foundations have already been built or are under construction all over the world : Brazil, France, Lithuania, Indonesia, Mexico, Netherlands, Russia, Serbia, Sweden and Thailand to name but a few. As a result of its astonishing design, these projects have enabled savings of up to 20% in the volume of concrete, a reduction in the diameter of the foundation and a reduction in the total weight of rebars of 5 to 9%. In some cases, even more important than the material cost is the space available: with SOFT-SPOT® you need less area for the foundation. This reduces time and excavation costs.

Layer of soft material

CTE WIND Civil Engineering presents a new foundation system for wind turbines, a shallow gravity foundation with SOFT-SPOT®. By placing a layer of soft material under the central part of the foundation, the plate effectively acts as a ring foundation in terms of soil-structure interaction. The bearing pressure of the WTG is concentrated on the annular contact surface closer to the edge of the slab. This increases the lever arm of the stabilising moment. As a result, the diameter of the foundation can be reduced compared to a standard foundation solution.

Simply the most economical foundation

Thanks to the intelligent design of SOFT-SPOT®, less excavation is required. This reduces machine costs. An important point is that the construction of the soft layer does not require any additional training of site workers. The construction is very simple and the material for the soft layer can be purchased cheaply anywhere in the world. Or as CTE Wind customer H4a Windenergie B.V. pointed out: It is simply the most economical foundation you can choose.

Please contact us if you are interested in knowing more about CTE Wind’s SOFT-SPOT®