Another unique solution provider in the survey is SolarDuck. Unlike most FPV solution providers that are mainly focused on inland waters or near-shore location at best, SolarDuck is exclusively focusing on offshore FPV. The reason, according to SolarDucks' chief commercial officer & GM Norway, Francisco G. Vozza is that the founding vision of the company is to use ocean space as a response to the need for more renewable energy in a world where land is scarce. SolarDuck is promoting 3 different solutions and the first are hybrid systems where floating solar is combined with offshore wind. This approach again has 3 benefits, according to Vozza, and synergies in power production profile is one among them.
Solar and wind power are inversely correlated, meaning that when there is usually wind, there is generally no or only little sun, and vice versa. This leads to a more stable power production profile, which eases the integration of renewables into the grid and reduces the need for storage. The synergies in infrastructure are also very beneficial. Offshore floating solar can be executed at a marginal cost to the wind farm, as the existing infrastructure – power export cables setup for the wind farms for example –can be used. There is also some leverage on O&M activities. The third benefit is environmental that comes in the form of more efficient use of the ocean space (see Membrane Based Solution For Floating PV Systems).
Offshore floating solar can also be developed as a standalone solution, which still addresses land scarcity. Another alternative are microgrids to electrify offshore infrastructure, such as oil and gas assets. "In certain areas of the world, like the Middle East, this provides a very good opportunity," said Vozza. SolarDuck's offshore floating PV solution uses a semi-submersible floating platform made of marine grade aluminum. This design is proven and established in the oil and gas industry, and it is able to tackle higher waves for a longer period of time, according to the company. The floating structure does not need any maintenance over its lifespan of30 years, and it also protects the solar panels from marine life growth, Vozza underlined (see FPV On Different Water Bodies).
However, most of the other FPV solution providers TaiyangNews spoke to are not in favor of complete offshore FPV. While the majority are exploring or ready with solutions for near shore, offshore is off the radar for now. Challenging weather conditions, larger waves and costs and complexities for O&M activities are the major challenges listed by most of the FPV players; those companies opine that not even a fraction of the potential for inland water bodies has been tapped yet.
The text is an excerpt from the TaiyangNews Floating PV 2024 Report, which can be downloaded for free here.