German sustainable energy company RWE and offshore solar developer SolarDuck have announced that they are collaborating to create ‘floating solar parks’ and expand their use. As part of the collaboration, RWE will invest in SolarDuck’s first offshore pilot project to be located in the North Sea.
Can be integrated into offshore wind farms
The full-scale offshore solar park project ‘Merganser’ will be established off the coast of Ostend, Belgium. The pilot project will have a capacity of 0.5 MWp. Merganser’s operation in the North Sea will provide RWE and SolarDuck with significant first-hand experience in one of the world’s toughest offshore environments. If the project is successful, the technology is scheduled to be commercialized from next year.
In SolarDuck’s system, solar panels are located 5 meters above the water. The triangular shaped platform, which can withstand winds up to 110 km per hour, is said to have a predicted life of 30 years.
In the longer term, RWE plans to integrate the technology into the Hollandse Kust West offshore wind farm.
Developed vehicle integrated solar panel for low speed EVs
The integration of offshore floating solar parks into an offshore wind farm means more efficient use of ocean space for power generation, RWE said in a statement.
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