Photovoltaic panels installed on the North Shore

Can floating solar panels produce energy at the North Sea?

For the first time, two energy researchers at Utrecht University have studied the energy yields of solar panels at the North Sea. To do so, they created a computer model for floating solar panels that simulated the effects of wind, waves and temperature.

Can solar panels be installed at sea?

Installing solar panels at sea preserves the landscape and frees up valuable land for agriculture. But how much energy will they generate? For the first time, two energy researchers at Utrecht University have studied the energy yields of solar panels at the North Sea.

Can floating solar panels be installed near the coast?

Recently, Saipem and Equinor signed a cooperation agreement to develop a technological solution for a fleet of floating solar panels suitable to be installed near the coast. The floating technology, developed by Moss Maritime, has been recently tested by Sintef Ocean . 2.4. Design Considerations for Marine Applications

Can a solar park be built at sea?

Unfortunately, the construction of large-scale solar parks is limited by the amount of land available and the possible harmful effects on nature. In theory, we could cover every roof with solar panels, but not every roof is suitable for that. None of these disadvantages apply at sea, where panels also cannot be covered by shade or dust.

What is the biggest offshore solar plant in the world?

Dutch-Norwegian company SolarDuck, for example, is working with German energy company RWE to build a floating solar plant at a North Sea wind farm. The company says it will be the biggest offshore floating solar plant in the world, with the capacity to power a few hundred homes.

What makes the computer simulation of North Sea solar panels unique?

The computer simulation of North Sea panels is unique for many reasons. “There is almost no experimental or theoretical material available about floating solar panels”, according to Professor Wilfried van Sark, the other researcher involved in the study. “For our research, we constructed a computer model using 12 floating panels.