Fred Olsen 1848, a Bonheur company, has revealed a new proprietary system designed to enable near-and offshore floating solar arrays to handle wave and wind loads.
The main philosophy of the design called Bolette is to allow the PV modules to move freely and independently within a pre-tensioned rope mesh, while the environmental forces are distributed through the mesh and mooring system.
The system is designed with an integrated solution for operation and maintenance and is easily scalable and can be tailored to each individual project, Fred Olsen 1848 noted.
“Bolette is designed in a very cost-efficient manner to follow the motion of the ocean, even in offshore conditions. We believe Bolette’s elegant simplicity is a game-changer unlocking the potential of floating solar,” said Sofie Olsen Jebsen, CEO of Fred Olsen 1848.
The solar floater has successfully completed a final tank test and is set for a 150kW pilot installation in Norway during summer 2023. This will be followed by a planned first commercial 3 MW unit in 2024, with the aim to deliver further commercial projects from 2025 and onwards.
