The Merganser mission was efficiently put in within the Dutch North Sea as a primary step in direction of testing and demonstrating the expertise. Developed by the Dutch-Norwegian firm SolarDuck with the assist of RWE, they plan to watch the efficiency whereas exploring the probabilities of integrating solar energy into offshore wind farms.
German vitality big RWE introduced two years in the past that it could discover integrating floating photo voltaic expertise into offshore wind farms to create extra environment friendly use of ocean house for vitality era. The firm says it was drawn to the idea as a technique to deal with the rising shortage of land for renewable vitality era and in its place in places the place the wind is much less appropriate for energy era. .
“Standalone or together with offshore wind farms, offshore floating photo voltaic can open up extra offshore renewable vitality alternatives – particularly in international locations with low common wind velocity however loads of daylight,” stated Sven Utermohlen, CEO of RWE Offshore Wind.
RWE in 2022 gained a Dutch public sale for the Hollandse Kust (west) Wind Farm Zone. As a part of the mission, the corporate proposes to combine the SolarDuck resolution to fulfill the demand necessities. SolarDuck was commissioned to develop the demonstration system whereas different public sale choices embrace the combination of batteries into offshore wind farms and the usage of house on websites for offshore hydrogen manufacturing.
Merganser has a capability of 0.5 megawatt peak. The mission consisting of six interconnected platforms was towed to its location about 7.5 miles off the coast of Scheveningen. The floating platforms had been efficiently related to the mooring system at a depth of 20 meters (65 ft).
One of the primary challenges is to create a platform that may face up to the tough situations of the ocean. The North Sea is well-known for its sturdy winds and excessive sea situations. SolarDuck’s triangular-shaped platform is designed to drift a number of meters above the water. According to the corporate, the design is ready to maintain important elements dry, clear, and secure, in addition to make sure the structural integrity of the semi-submersible floating construction. The design not too long ago acquired the world’s first certification for OFPV by Bureau Veritas.
Over the subsequent two years, Merganser can be monitored remotely with greater than 180 sensors put in to report structural masses, connector and mooring masses, and electrical efficiency. The corporations say this take a look at will present important info for the event and commercialization of the expertise.
The Hollandse Kust (west) Wind Farm Zone calls for 2 initiatives, one to be carried out by RWE, and the opposite by a consortium of Shell and Eneco. The zone is situated about 30 miles off the west coast of the Netherlands. It will accommodate about 1,400 MW, divided between two initiatives, and has a goal date to start out working on the finish of 2026.
