SolarDuck and RWE have successfully installed the 0.5 megawatt peak (MWp) offshore floating solar pilot project, Merganser, at the North Sea Farmers offshore test site in the Dutch North Sea. This pioneering project aims to test and demonstrate the structural, mooring, and electrical designs necessary for large-scale commercial deployment of offshore floating solar (OFPV) technology.
Located approximately 12 kilometers off the coast of Scheveningen, Merganser consists of six interconnected platforms capable of withstanding extreme offshore conditions. The floating platforms were successfully connected to the mooring system in water depths of 20 meters. RWE continues to provide offshore expertise and technical support for the pilot.
Sven Utermöhlen, CEO of RWE Offshore Wind, emphasized the potential of offshore floating solar, especially for countries with lower wind speeds but abundant sunlight. “With Merganser, we are gaining unique insights and first-hand experience in one of the most challenging offshore environments in the world,” said Utermöhlen.
SolarDuck's innovative triangular-shaped platform is designed to float several meters above the water, following the waves and keeping critical components dry, clean, and stable. This design recently received the world’s first certification for OFPV from Bureau Veritas.
Koen Burgers, CEO of SolarDuck, praised the collaboration with RWE and other partners, including TNO, TU Delft, MARIN, and Deltares, as well as supply chain partners like Damen Shipyards, TMA, and Norsk Hydro. “The successful installation of Merganser is proof of the dedication of SolarDuck’s team to electrify the world with offshore floating solar,” said Burgers.
Over the next two years, Merganser will be remotely monitored using more than 180 sensors to track structural loads, connector and mooring loads, and electrical performance. Deltares will also support an extensive monitoring campaign to assess the ecological impact of OFPV.
Source: RWE