Field lab floating solar

The Fieldlab Green Economy Westvoorne is located on shores of the Oostvoornse lake and offers us space for a variety of research projects on floating solar energy systems. This is a location with wave category 2. This means that there are waves of up to 1 m high.

At the field lab, there are a number of test fields of about 50 kWp. The field lab is also equipped with measuring equipment, a grid connection, a floating walkway, and a reference PV system on land.

Unique project floating solar farms

In 2020, a consortium led by us launched a research project for floating solar energy systems. Partners include petrochemical company SABIC, Norwegian energy company Equinor, and the municipality of Westvoorne. As part of this pilot, 3 promising systems were constructed that can contribute to the further development of floating solar energy, for locations with high waves, strong winds, and brackish water. In addition, we are working with Zeeland University of Applied Sciences to conduct research into the effects of floating farms on underwater life and biodiversity.

Floating solar farms

Floating solar is expected to make an important contribution to the energy transition. Some scenarios predict 200 gigawatt peak (GWp) of solar energy capacity in the Netherlands by 2050, of which 25 GWp will be on inland waterbodies. That's why we want to acquire knowledge about the effect of wind and waves on the life span and performance of floating solar power plants, as well as the ecological effects.

The research facility is a milestone in the roadmap of the National Consortium Solar on Water and is a major step towards offshore solar farms.

Get inspired

9 resultaten, getoond 1 t/m 5

Combining offshore wind and floating solar to reduce costs of green hydrogen

Informatietype:
News
28 February 2023

The recently granted innovative research project SENSE-HUB, led by TNO, addresses the integration of various energy system modules for the Dutch North Sea. The synergies between offshore wind, offshore solar and hydrogen production at sea will be considered.

Switch to the hybrid energy system

Informatietype:
Webinar
17 February 2023
1 aflevering

How will our future electricity grid remain stable and affordable? Watch the webinar from 1 February 2023 and get an insight into the technological and societal solutions for our future energy system.

Offshore Solar Platform: 3 gigawatt peak (GWp) of solar power by 2030

Informatietype:
News
9 January 2023

The Offshore Solar Platform (POS) was officially launched on 1 January 2023. For now, the platform consists of a core group of Dutch companies whose ambition is the development and roll-out of offshore solar power, together with TNO.

Solar energy

Informatietype:
Article

The Solar energy expertise group develops technology for solar panels, including bifacial solar modules and silicon solar cell technology.

Better solar farm design needed for nature conservation

Informatietype:
Article
How do you design solar farms that do not harm the landscape, biodiversity, or water and soil quality? And this at the lowest possible costs?