French class society Bureau Veritas (BV) has awarded the renewable energy company SolarDuck the world’s first prototype certification for floating offshore solar technology.
The floating solar tech was first applied in SolarDuck’s 0.5 MW pilot project Merganser. The project, developed by SolarDuck and supported by RWE, features an offshore floating solar pilot with a capacity of 520 kWp.
Comprising six interconnected platforms, the solution is designed to withstand challenging offshore conditions, including high waves, strong winds, and corrosive environments.
The design has been certified to withstand a maximum wave height of 11.6 meters with a directional 10-year return period at a water depth of 21.5 meters at the North Sea test site. It will be deployed off the coast of The Hague in the Netherlands which will provide a real-world operational environment to evaluate the floater’s performance and resilience in the North Sea.
The certification of the Merganser prototype by Bureau Veritas follows the approval in principle granted for the floating structure. Throughout the certification process, BV meticulously evaluated the prototype and its various aspects such as the floating structure, mooring system, stability analysis, materials, and electrical safety systems. Moving forward, the technology will be further evaluated for a type certification.
“The certification of SolarDuck’s Merganser prototype reflects the collaborative efforts between Bureau Veritas and industry innovators in advancing sustainable energy solutions,” said Martijn Nieuwenhuijs, country chief executive of Bureau Veritas Marine and Offshore Netherlands.
