BayWa r.e. renewable energy GmbH has expanded its floating solar capacity in the Netherlands with an additional 29.2 MW. It was brought online by the German company along with its Dutch subsidiary GroenLeven.
The capacity has been realized in the form of 2 floating solar parks in the villages of Nij Beets and Kloosterhaar altogether using more than 70,000 solar panels. The Nij Beets project is a sand extraction lake, it added and with the addition of floating solar, it now has become a dual function site. The floating solar component uses only 23% of the available water space at Nij Beets.
The company further shared that both these sites are equipped with 'special panels' and skylights to ensure there is enough light and air reaching the water surface.
Over the next 5 years, BayWa and Groenleven will study and monitor these 2 installations in partnership with the Institute for Nature Education and Sustainability (IVN) to ensure local flora and fauna to thrive together with the floating PV panels.
It happens to be BayWa's 6th floating solar project in the last 2 years taking its total installation capacity for this technology to close to 100 MW in Europe, according to the management.
"Prudently designed and built, floating PV can be as cost effective as regular ground-mounted solar over the operation period of 25-30 years," explained Global Director of Solar Projects at BayWa r.e. "We see a great interest from financial markets in our award-winning technology, as it has been proven by reality and examined by several independent technical experts already. It offers a win-win situation for the environment, local communities and – above all – a cost effective energy transition."
Previously, BayWa and GroenLeven completed 27.4 MW floating PV facility in the country with the latter giving up stake in it to a local consortium (see New owners For 'Largest' Dutch Floating PV Project).