New recommendations for offshore solar certification
As part of the North Sea Two (NS2) project, Oceans of Energy, Deltares, TNO, and DNV carried out unique testing, simulating North Sea wave conditions in the Deltares Delta Flume. The results, available in a newly-published white paper, offer validations for structural performance for floating solar systems with solar modules at the seawater-level and recommendations to industry experts on the next steps towards certification of offshore solar.
Structural testing of offshore solar systems and PV modules
Offshore Solar Energy
Offshore solar has immense potential. As the push for renewable energy accelerates, offshore solar is emerging as a promising solution against pressing challenges for renewables on land. Additionally, integrating solar with offshore wind farms allows for the efficient use of existing infrastructure and the improved use of the wind farm site space.
Standardised testing and certification processes are important for developing the industry further and to capture the immense potential. Currently, there are no standardised testing or certification processes in place. These standards are essential in ensuring that offshore solar farms can be deployed safely, cost-effectively, and with long-term stability.
Research and innovation
Research and innovation contribute to bridging this gap and gathering the required knowledge for developing offshore solar testing standards and certification. Collaboration between research institutes, technology developers, and certification bodies is needed.
An important research initiative is the North Sea Two Offshore Solar project (NS2), funded by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs. Partners in the consortium project include Oceans of Energy, Deltares, DNV, and TNO.
In addition to a four-year pilot operating in offshore conditions, the consortium conducted a unique, full-scale experimental test in the Deltares Delta Flume. The research considered the impact of wave action on various Oceans of Energy floating platforms. It also aimed to understand the behaviour of specific farms and the performance of PV modules in a controlled environment.
The NS2 Delta Flume tests have greatly increased our understanding of how our offshore solar systems surpass the high waves in the offshore North Sea environment. This collaboration together is of large importance in making progress towards certification of offshore solar.
Fabian Koppes, Head of Product, Oceans of Energy
Large and small-scale testing
Experiments included testing at the prototype scale, with results showing that unique knowledge on floating solar panel movement can be gained this scale. These insights were of large value in addition to insights gathered during small-scale testing or by testing at sea.
Proto-scale testing therefore is an important step in the development of a standardised testing programme, which can eventually lead to the certification of large-scale marine applications. While small-scale testing is useful for understanding the dominant mechanisms that determine the behaviour of the rig and its impact on the mooring system, proto-scale testing – such as in the Delta Flume – allows for isolation of specific measurements and is therefore key for improving understanding the actual forces on individual elements, which are also difficult to get to scale.
The Delta Flume tests have provided useful insights into the behaviour of the floating system and individual components under severe wave loads.
Roderik Hoekstra, Deltares project lead
DNV experts specialising in offshore solar energy were invited to the Deltares Delta Flume to witness a full-scale laboratory test of the Oceans of Energy solar farm system. This gave DNV a better understanding of the structural and mechanical requirements of these systems. It highlighted how testing activities contribute to the development of offshore solar certification. By simulating offshore conditions, the tests provided valuable data on how these systems react to different wave conditions based on floater length.
TNO is happy that we have contributed to this collaborative experiment in a unique experimental testing environment to validate hydrodynamic models and assess the impact of waves on solar panels.
Jan Kroon, TNO project lead
White paper recommendations
The testing results have been published in a white paper titled “The Structural Testing of Offshore Solar Systems and PV-Modules by wave slamming in the Deltares Delta Flume”.
The paper provides a current overview on the development of this innovative technology to generate solar energy at sea. It sets out the methodology and findings of the experimental testing conducted within the North Sea Two offshore solar farm project. The paper also offers recommendations for the next steps towards certification, informed by the NS2 project results. With the results and recommendations in the paper, policymakers and industry can take the next steps towards certification, thereby bringing the potential offered by offshore solar energy a step closer to reality.
