Sixteen European partners have started an EU joint industry project (JIP) where floating solar technology is scaled up to standard formats of 150 MW enabling to build gigawatt scale farms.
Project aims
The BAMBOO project (Building scAlable Modular Bamboo-inspired Offshore sOlar systems) aims to resolve challenges for the rollout of large-scale offshore solar into new and existing wind farms.
This also involves proving the robustness and performance of the floating solar panels in offshore conditions, alongside researching their environmental impact to ensure sustainability across the whole value chain of this industry.
This collaboration is coordinated by RINA and gathers offshore solar developer Oceans of Energy, technology developers Solarge, TKF, Pauwels Transformers, SolarCleano, technical and environmental consultancies RINA, ABS, Aquatera Ltd, Aquatera Atlantico, and WavEC, testing laboratories MARIN, Fraunhofer CSP, SIRRIS, the marine science-policy think-tank European Marine Board, and offshore wind farm developer Vattenfall as potential client for implementation.
“This project will contribute to enable feasible business cases of solar renewable energy offshore”, said Andrea Bombardi, Carbon Reduction Excellence Executive Vice President of RINA.
Envisioned results
The desired outcome for the BAMBOO project is to mature the technologies and allow for attracting the funds for the pioneering 100-200 MW offshore solar farm within a Vattenfall offshore wind farm by the end of the decade.
By utilizing offshore wind farm space for floating solars, the required space for generating renewable energy on both land and at sea can be significantly reduced.
As reported in January 2024, the industry needs to start shifting its focus from wind farms to energy farms, as we have limited space that needs to be used efficiently – synergy of offshore wind and floating solar wind is the way to go.
“Oceans of Energy is proud to advance offshore solar further towards a real gamechanger in the renewable energy transition, by bringing these standardized, large scale offshore solar farms to the world,” said Allard van Hoeken, Founder and CEO of Oceans of Energy.
Solar farms increased
The increased scale of floating solar farms can reduce their environmental impacts per installed capacity, as there is reduced reliance on seabed anchors and the electricity export cable can be centralized on a larger floating platform, said Oceans of Energy.
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Source : Off shore energy
