A tubular foundation element, in particular a pile e.g. a jacket pile, to be installed in a ground formation has at least one open end, typically both ends open, allowing a pile driver with an anvil to be inserted into the tubular foundation element. The tubular foundation element comprises a support at the inside thereof, which support is adapted to transmit energy from the anvil directly to the tubular foundation element, during installation of the tubular foundation element.

A pile-driver assembly for driving a pile into the ground, preferably off-shore, and a method of driving a pile into the ground using the pile-driver assembly is disclosed. The assembly includes a casing defining a chamber, the chamber being configured to house a fluid, the chamber comprising a channel extending at least partially therethrough. The assembly further includes a positioning element configured to position the casing at or on the pile, wherein at least a portion of the positioning element is positioned between the chamber and the pile, wherein the positioning element comprises a guide element, configured to extend at least partially through the channel of the chamber. The assembly further includes actuating means, wherein actuation of the actuating means displaces the chamber relative to the positioning element, such that the chamber moves away from the pile, and wherein the actuating means is configured to release the chamber for displacement towards the pile such that a force is exerted by the chamber on the positioning member, to controllably drive the pile into the ground.