Imagine putting solar panels on water instead of land to save space and keep the panels cool. This project makes sure these floating arrays don't hurt fish or plants and can survive harsh waves and salt. It's like upgrading a floating raft to a heavy-duty industrial platform that lasts for decades.
Floating solar plants often face high costs (LCOE), uncertainty regarding long-term structural reliability in harsh water conditions, and potential negative impacts on aquatic biodiversity.
Improved floater, connection, and anchoring systems, including a 5 MW inland plant and a 100-unit offshore pilot.
If you are a solar hardware manufacturer dealing with high installation costs and short component lifespans — this project developed improved floater and anchoring designs that reduce the LCOE. It specifically tests scales from 50 kW up to 5 MW to ensure long-term reliability.
If you are an offshore energy firm dealing with high sea states and corrosive environments — this project developed innovative offshore FPV solutions. It includes a commercially relevant pilot of 100 on the Norwegian coast to prove viability in open water.
If you are a consultancy dealing with strict biodiversity regulations for energy projects — this project developed Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and biodiversity impact data. This allows for the deployment of solar plants without environmental sacrifices.
The project focuses on reducing the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) by improving the design, sustainability, and application range of three leading European FPV technologies.
The project involves scaling from a 50 kW prototype to 5 MW plants for two providers, and a 100-unit commercially relevant pilot for offshore deployment.
Based on available project data, the technology is being developed by three specific providers: Ciel et Terre, Zimmermann PV-Steel Group, and Sunlit Sea.
The project period runs from 2024-09-01 to 2027-08-31.
The project develops specific connection and anchoring technology to allow FPV plants to operate in higher sea states and inland waters.
The consortium is heavily industry-driven with a 64% industry ratio, comprising 9 industrial partners and 4 research entities across 7 countries. The presence of market leaders like Ciel et Terre and Zimmermann PV-Steel Group indicates a strong focus on commercial viability and immediate market application rather than theoretical research.
Contact INSTITUTT FOR ENERGITEKNIKK STI in Norway
Contact us to connect with the FPV technology providers in the SuRE consortium.
