A brand-new offshore floating photovoltaic system called Seavolt has been introduced by Belgian partners Jan De Nul, Tractebel, and DEME.
The trio said that this technique was the result of collaborative research and development that brought together the knowledge of professionals in solar, the environment, and offshore.
They stated that Seavolt technology, which has a patent application filed, can survive challenging offshore circumstances while producing sizable surfaces that are wave-protected.
According to the developers, benefits include local renewable energy production and the ability to put the panels in offshore windfarms (where local authorities accept multi-use concessions). The modular design makes it simple to adapt to various sites and demands.
Another benefit, they continued, is the rapid expansion of renewable energy capacity in big quantities.
Four years ago, the partners and Ghent University launched the Blue Cluster-based research project MPVAQUA (Marine PV Aquaculture), which is sponsored by VLAIO.
Together with preliminary analysis of effects on the marine habitat, integration of aquaculture, and a financial assessment, a marine floater concept was designed.
The partners are presently working on an offshore test installation that will be launched off the coast of Belgium in the summer of 2023 after laboratory testing.
Additionally, in conjunction with RBINS, parallel tracks concentrating on the ecosystem, the environment and cost effectiveness are being created with the help of the Energy Transition Fund and the Federal Relaunch Fund.
Offshore director at Jan De Nul Group, Philippe Hutse, said “We are thrilled to launch the Seavolt technology, which represents the culmination of years of hard work and innovation in offshore PV technology together with our partners.”
“Seavolt is a reliable, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly solution that can be deployed in even the harshest offshore conditions.”
“As the offshore wind industry continues to grow, we believe that it has the potential to play a crucial role in optimizing the use of space on the sea by complementing offshore wind farms.”
“We are excited to see how Seavolt will shape the future of renewable energy and contribute to a more sustainable future.”
Philippe Van Troeye, Tractebel chief executive, said “In the same way that we have seen wind technology moving from land to the sea, we are seeing the extension of the whole energy system towards offshore locations.”
“Along with offshore green fuel production, offshore energy islands, interconnectors and potential solutions for energy storage, we believe offshore floating PV has an important role to play in the acceleration of the energy transition.”
“While this technology is still in its infancy, we are convinced that with such strong partners on board we are giving Seavolt all possible chances to succeed.”
Chief executive of DEME Group, Luc Vandenbulcke, added “With our focus on working towards a sustainable planet, DEME is again showing its pioneering spirit.”
“By working closely with like-minded partners, we have developed Seavolt – a new renewable energy solution which has great potential to accelerate the clean energy transition.”
“DEME has decades of knowledge about what it means to operate in an offshore environment, and we are already the leading contractor in the offshore wind sector.”
“We believe combining solar and wind energy offshore provides fantastic opportunities for the future.”
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