Offshore Solar Test Project Opens the Door to Certification Standards

A new research project is helping shape the future of clean energy at sea. The North Sea Two (NS2) project recently shared results from large-scale testing of floating offshore solar panels. These tests were done by four key partners, Oceans of Energy, Deltares, TNO, and DNV, inside the Deltares Delta Flume, a special facility built to simulate strong ocean waves like those in the North Sea. 

The main goal of this project is to create official safety and performance standards for offshore solar systems. Right now, there are no clear rules for how to test or approve these floating systems. This lack of certification makes it harder to grow the offshore solar industry. The NS2 project aims to change that by providing real data that engineers and experts can use to develop safe and trusted offshore solar systems. 

During the tests, researchers looked closely at how the solar panels and the entire floating platform reacted to large waves. The results showed that the systems were strong enough to handle harsh sea conditions. This gives confidence to companies and governments looking to use solar power at sea. 

To better understand how the systems perform, the project combined both small-scale and full-scale (proto-scale) testing. Small models helped the team study the basic behavior of the solar structures. The larger, more realistic models allowed them to measure the actual forces hitting each part of the system. These measurements gave DNV, a global certification organization, the details they needed to begin forming new offshore solar standards. 

Each partner played an important role. Deltares led the testing in the flume. Oceans of Energy used what they learned to improve their offshore system, which was recently installed at the Hollandse Kust Noord offshore wind farm. TNO helped test how waves affect the solar panels, and DNV is now using the data to help set future rules for the industry. 

All the results and recommendations are now available in a white paper titled “The Structural Testing of Offshore Solar Systems & PV-Modules by Wave Slamming in the Deltares Delta Flume.” The paper includes how the tests were done, what the results showed, and what steps the industry should take next. 

This four-year project, funded by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, is an important step toward building large and reliable offshore solar farms. It also shows how offshore solar can work together with offshore wind to create more clean energy for the future. 

As solar energy generation is re-imagined to incorporate offshore locations, the market for stationary energy storage systems is bound to explode. Companies like SolarBank Corp. (NASDAQ: SUUN) (Cboe CA: SUNN) (FSE: GY2) focused on the renewable energy ecosystem could see their footprint grow around the globe. 

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