A new offshore floating photovoltaic technology is about to be launched in Belgium, consisting of solar panels that generate electricity from the sea, even in the harshest weather conditions. It is a huge four-column structure that generates renewable energy from solar panels on the surface.
This is a Belgian consortium that plans to launch an offshore PV pilot project in the waters near the port of Ostend on the Belgian North Sea coast.
The modular construction makes it easy to adapt to the settings and requirements of adverse weather conditions. The benefits include the ability to use solar panels in offshore wind farms to produce renewable energy locally.
Advances in photovoltaic technology are accelerating, and local demand for renewable energy production is soaring. Wind and solar technologies complement each other, combining offshore floating solar with existing and future offshore wind installations, with the potential to provide a significant amount of additional renewable energy.
The project will collect data on the impact of waves, rain and salt spray on various solar module technologies in different configurations, assess the impact of different tilt angles caused by waves and wind on energy production, and estimate the impact of seawater and guano on solar energy and the effectiveness of necessary protective measures.
Expectations are high for this new app. Offshore PV combined with offshore wind power can generate electricity from multiple locations and existing infrastructure.