Keller's experience providing the energy sector with cost-effective solutions to ground problems spans decades.
Sector challenges we can solve
Our crews and equipment can access any site, from the confines of a coal-fired power plant to mountainous terrain for transmission towers. We can design and build a geotechnical solution to meet your needs, whether for bio, fossil, hydroelectric, nuclear, wind, or solar power generation, and transmission and distribution.
Our deep foundation and ground improvement techniques allow you to construct your project as designed when it must be built over less-than-ideal soils. We work safely around utilities at existing power generation and distribution facilities. Our quality control capabilities help ensure that what we construct on the ground is to specification. We carefully follow all procedures at security-sensitive power generation sites.
Applications
Keller supports fossil-fueled power plants with ground improvement and foundation solutions for heavy, settlement-sensitive structures like cooling towers, turbines, and fuel systems. As coal-fired boilers are increasingly converted to LNG for lower emissions and costs, our techniques ensure safe and efficient upgrades.
We use vibro replacement, soil mixing, and wick drains to stabilize soft soils and accelerate construction. For structural upgrades, micropiles and grouting (compaction or jet) provide reliable load transfer in tight spaces.
Our earth retention systems protect adjacent structures during below-grade construction. Groundwater barriers and soil mixing isolate fly ash ponds and stabilize contaminated soils, while wick drains aid in reclaiming tailings ponds.
Keller supports new dam construction and upgrades to existing hydroelectric facilities with advanced geotechnical techniques. Our services include:
- Seepage and scour control: Jet and cement grouting form cut-off walls and grout curtains, sealing aging joints and preventing erosion.
- Void stabilization: Compaction grouting with biodegradable additives like guar gum restores sand filters and sinkholes.
- Cut-off walls: Low-permeability barriers built using soil mixing (column and TRD methods).
- Structural stability: Anchors and earth retention systems (soil nails, soldier beams) reinforce dams and spillways.
- Seismic protection: Vibro replacement, soil mixing, and jet grouting mitigate liquefaction and control settlement.
Keller pioneered computerized data acquisition and remote-controlled grouting at Ridgeway Dam in Colorado (1980) and continues to lead in quality control and innovation for ground improvement.
Keller provides specialized ground improvement and foundation solutions for nuclear facilities, including cooling towers, turbines, containment structures, and spent fuel storage.
For plant upgrades, such as steam generator replacements, we offer deep foundation systems and grouting techniques to support heavy cranes and equipment in tight, congested areas. Jet and chemical grouting also reinforce transformer and pipe rack foundations, while deep foundations support high mast lighting towers.
Ground improvement methods like vibro replacement, soil mixing, and wick drains mitigate liquefaction, control settlement, and accelerate construction by consolidating soft soils—ensuring stability and efficiency for new builds and expansions.
Keller delivers fast-track foundation support for solar panel arrays using a wide range of pile systems, including drilled shafts, micropiles, auger cast piles, driven piles, and helical piles. Our solutions provide reliable resistance to compression, uplift, and lateral loads.
With specialized equipment, we install piles efficiently through dense soils, helping renewable energy projects stay on schedule and on budget. No matter the size or complexity, Keller offers a geotechnical solution for every solar installation.
Keller delivers reliable ground improvement and foundation systems for planned and existing wind turbine sites. Our solutions address challenges like low bearing capacity, settlement, uplift, and seismic risks.
We enhance foundation performance using:
- Anchors and drilled shafts: Boost uplift resistance and support high compression/tension loads.
- Deep foundations: Driven piles and rigid inclusions bypass weak soils to reach stable layers.
- Ground improvement: Aggregate piers and mass stabilization strengthen weak granular or shallow soils.
- Wick drains: Accelerate construction by consolidating soft soils.
With proven expertise and advanced quality control, Keller ensures safe, cost-effective, high-performance wind energy infrastructure foundations.
Keller delivers foundation and ground improvement services for transmission and distribution systems, addressing challenges like low bearing capacity, slope instability, liquefaction, and excavation support. Our solutions include:
- Tower foundations: Anchors, drilled shafts, micropiles, and helical piles provide vertical and lateral support, even in difficult terrain.
- Ground improvement: Soil mix columns, aggregate piers, jet and compaction grouting enhance bearing capacity and reduce settlement.
- Earth retention: Soil nailing and other techniques stabilize slopes and protect towers on ridges and peaks.
- Remote access construction: Micropile rigs can be deployed via helicopter for hard-to-reach sites.
Keller’s design-build approach ensures cost-effective, high-performance foundations across diverse subsurface conditions.
Keller provides ground improvement and foundation support for biofuel facilities, including tanks, silos, and tunnels. Our solutions address settlement, bearing capacity, and seismic risks which are critical for expansions and upgrades.
We use soil mixing, vibro replacement, and wick drains to strengthen soils before construction, enabling shallow foundations and faster schedules. Post-construction, grouting techniques relevel structures and arrest settlement.
By improving site soils, Keller helps control differential settlement and protect vital connections between plant components, ensuring long-term stability and performance.
Keller wind farm foundations
