Offshore floating solar installed off Dutch coast
Solarduck and RWE have successfully installed Merganser, a 0.5 MWp offshore floating solar pilot, at the North Sea Farmers offshore test site in the Dutch North Sea. This project, supported by RWE, aims to test and demonstrate the structural, mooring, and electrical designs needed for the large-scale commercial deployment of offshore floating photovoltaic (OFPV) systems.
Located 12 km off the coast of Scheveningen, Merganser consists of six interconnected platforms designed to withstand extreme offshore conditions. The pilot will undergo technical and environmental monitoring to further investigate the technology's viability.
Solarduck has created a triangular-shaped platform, which is designed to float above water and follow waves and keep critical components dry and stable. This design recently received the world’s first certification for OFPV by Bureau Veritas.
Over the next two years, the project will be remotely monitored using over 180 sensors to evaluate performance and ecological impact, supported by Deltares. (pb)