Oceans of Energy: research into offshore solar farm performance

<div><p>The first floating pontoons from the Oceans of Energy company have now endured storms and high waves at a test site off the coast of Zeeland. A first step in demonstrating that offshore solar farms continue to function under severe weather conditions.</p><p>Oceans of Energy will build 1 megawatt (mWp) of offshore solar in the NS2 project, 12 km off the coast of Scheveningen. Partners are TNO, Deltares, NIOZ, WMR, TKF and Primo Marine. We'll be researching the suitability of solar panels for offshore use, and are investigating integration at wind farms.</p></div>

Floating solar panels

Thema:: Floating solar

Floating solar will make a significant contribution to the energy transition. Some scenarios predict 200 gigawatt peak (GWp) of solar power in the Netherlands in 2050, 25 GWp of which will be on inland waters and 45 GWp at sea. The knowledge level is still insufficient. For example, on the effect of wind and waves on solar panels and the lifetime of floating solar energy systems. Therefore, we are conducting plenty of research that fits with our mission to make solar energy applicable to different types of surface.

Wave Category 2

In 2017, together with partners from the National Consortium Solar on Water, we conducted a study on the feasibility of solar energy systems on water surfaces with wave category 2, waves until 1 meter high. This research took place at the Slufter on the Maasvlakte. The project provided a comprehensive inventory of challenges and potential failure mechanisms in these types of systems.

Performance of panels and ecological effects

The field lab located on the shores of the Oostvoornse Meer offers space for a variety of research projects on floating solar energy systems. At the field lab, floating solar energy systems are subjected to challenging conditions, such as wave category 2 and corrosive conditions. We are also researching the ecological impact of these systems on marine life and water quality.

An interesting line of thought is the construction of ring-shaped islands in the IJsselmeer, so-called atolls. This would allow us to create a lee area suitable for floating solar energy systems that can withstand wave category-2 conditions. This approach can go hand in hand with the required nature development (Natura 2000).

A next step is to use the surface of the IJsselmeer for solar energy. The IJsselmeer also has quite a substantial task in terms of nature development. The question is whether the development of new nature in the IJsselmeer region and solar energy can go hand in hand. Do we see opportunities for synergy on a spatial planning, policy, and/or financial level?

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Offshore floating solar panels

In the North Sea, a large area has been earmarked for offshore renewable energy. Initially for wind energy, but there is enough space in between the wind turbines to generate solar energy as well. We are collaborating on several projects focused on how to achieve robust offshore floating solar energy systems with high yields and long service lives at acceptable costs.

Projects floating solar

We contribute to these projects from various areas of expertise and labs. Examples include solar energy components (modules and electronics) and complete systems, as well as new measurement methods to examine systems and components.

The first floating pontoons from the Oceans of Energy company have now endured storms and high waves at a test site off the coast of Zeeland. A first step in demonstrating that offshore solar farms continue to function under severe weather conditions.

Oceans of Energy will build 1 megawatt (mWp) of offshore solar in the NS2 project, 12 km off the coast of Scheveningen. Partners are TNO, Deltares, NIOZ, WMR, TKF and Primo Marine. We'll be researching the suitability of solar panels for offshore use, and are investigating integration at wind farms.

Within the Solar@Sea project, Bluewater, Endures, Genap, Marin, TNO and Avans Hogeschool are working together at a concept based on a flexible structure. The basic idea here is to make the structure move optimally with the waves and to apply flexible solar panels. In this way, the consortium hopes to arrive at a robust solution that can withstand the forces of nature and achieves a high yield.

The CrossWind consortium, a joint venture of Shell in the Netherlands and Eneco, is building the new offshore wind farm Hollandse Kust (Noord). Together with CrossWind, we are working on research and a demonstration of solar energy at sea at this new offshore wind farm. The Hollandse Kust (Noord) offshore wind farm is expected to be operational in 2023. The offshore solar demonstration at this site will be 500 kWp in size and is planned for 2025.

In the Merganser project, we are collaborating with SolarDuck, Marin, Deltares and TU Delft. The consortium will develop, test and validate an offshore solar pilot installation under offshore (North Sea) weather conditions. The installation consists of 6 coupled platforms with a total capacity of 500 kWp. Through this project, the consortium aims to gain more insight into the suitability of the technology to operate under extreme offshore conditions. In addition, the partners are researching the ecological impact of such solar energy systems at sea and the incorporation of solar energy into offshore wind farms.