Floating solar project kicks off
The EUR 8.4 million Nautical SUNRISE project, supported by EUR 6.8 million from the Horizon Europe programme, was launched in December and will underpin research and development into offshore floating solar systems and components. The project aims to facilitate the large-scale development and commercialisation of offshore floating solar farms, both as independent installations and combined with offshore wind farms.
Initially, the project will design, build and demonstrate a 5-MW floating solar farm using a modular setup developed by SolarDuck, a solar energy development firm based in the Netherlands. Germany’s RWE Offshore Wind GmbH will provide funding for installation and deployment and the facility will be electrically integrated, certified, and located within RWE’s OranjeWind farm off the Dutch coast.
Prior to the offshore deployment, the Nautical SUNRISE consortium will conduct extensive research and testing to ensure the reliability, survivability, electrical stability, and yield of offshore floating solar systems. A comprehensive scale-up plan will address the challenges and create opportunities to drive forward the commercialisation of offshore floating solar systems.
Simon Stark, chief technology officer at the Dutch Marine Energy Centre (DMEC), said: “We are excited to coordinate the Nautical SUNRISE project as one of the flagship initiatives of offshore solar in Europe. Not only do we have the chance to address important knowledge gaps around the design and environmental impact of offshore solar. Together with RWE and the OranjeWind consortium we can do so in full alignment and integration with a commercial offshore wind park.”
Alongside DMEC, partners in the project are SolarDuck, RWE, Blunova, Bridon-Bekaert The Ropes Group, Deltares, Hasselt University, KU Leuven, Oxford PV, SINTEF Industry, SINTEF Ocean, The Catalonia Institute for Energy Research, INESC TEC, and WavEC Offshore Renewables.
