First phase test of floating thin-film solar panels closed

Moving along

Within the framework of the TKI project Solar@Sea, a consortium led by Solliance, a joint venture between TNO and imec, is developing a new concept for floating solar panels. The concept is being developed for offshore applications. The rationale behind this innovation is a floating construction that follows the waves instead of trying to defy them. This is possible by using flexible thin-film solar cells and strong but flexible floats. Bending and fatigue tests at Solliance have shown that floating thin-film solar panels can withstand millions of minor bends without damage. A scale model of the concept has been wave tested in the Marin test basin. These tests show that the concept can be technically viable for offshore use.

A demonstration system with a power of 1,000 Wp has been built for this second practical test. The main goal is to determine the correct floating height and stability of the floating body. This system was launched at the end of 2019 in the Weperpolder, in addition to a large floating solar system from Groenleven. The electrical connection to the Groenleven solar park followed in the spring of 2020, of necessity without a show of celebration. From the moment of connection, the system is continuously monitored. The data is compared with the data of Groenleven and the system performs as expected. Groenleven itself also has ambitions to go offshore and is therefore very interested in the test results.

Step up to the next phase of floating solar panels

The first phase of the Solar@Sea project will close at the end of June. Monitoring will continue in the second phase of the Solar@Sea project. In this follow-up phase, a larger test system with a capacity of 50 kWp will be built and installed in the Oostvoornse lake. After this phase (at the end of 2021), the consortium, in which Genap, Bluewater Energy Services, Marin, Avans and TNO participate, expects to be ready to build the first fully-fledged offshore pilot systems for application in the North Sea.