DNV GL launches industry project to develop recommended practices for floating solar
Norway's DNV GL has launched a joint industry project (JIP) with 14 leading firms in Europe's solar sector to develop the first recommended practices for floating solar projects. The recommended practices will establish recognised standards and technical requirements for safe, reliable and sustainable floating solar projects.
Norway’s DNV GL has launched a joint industry project (JIP) with 14 leading firms in Europe’s solar sector to develop the first recommended practices for the rapidly growing floating solar market.
The recommended practice will establish recognised standards and technical requirements for safe, reliable and sustainable floating solar projects.
The 14 companies already signed up for the JIP group are:
- BayWa r.e (Germany)
- Blue C Engineering (Germany)
- Capri Tech/Makor Energy (Switzerland)
- Ciel & Terre International (France)
- Compagnie Nationale du Rhone (France)
- EDF (France)
- EDP (Portugal)
- Equinor (Norway)
- Isigenere (Spain)
- Mainstream Renewable Power (UK)
- Noria Energy (US)
- Scatec Solar (Norway)
- Seaflex (Sweden)
- Statkraft (Norway)
While the first floating solar projects were developed in 2006, development of the new technology was cautious initially, with only 10MW of installed floating PC capacity by 2015. However, the development of floating solar projects has increased significantly over the past five years, with more than 3GW of floating solar capacity installed globally by the end of 2019.
The JIP will establish recommended practices for floating solar schemes on inland and inshore waters. The group will focus on five key areas of floating solar development:
- Site conditions assessment
- Energy yield forecast
- Mooring and anchoring systems
- Floating structures
- Permitting and environmental impact
The JIP group is planning to develop a draft guidelines document by the end of 2020, before making it available for wider industry consultation. The recommended practices are expected to be published in the first quarter of 2021.
“Floating solar is a rapidly expanding technology with huge potential to help nations decarbonise, and one that we have been intimately involved with for many years. Drawing on our expertise in solar energy, floating wind, offshore platforms, Oil & Gas and Maritime technologies and industry knowledge, we have directly contributed to more than 1GW of floating solar projects, at different development stages," said Prajeev Rasiah, executive vice president for DNV GL's energy business in Northern Europe, Middle East and Africa.
"We are excited to work with so many committed industry leaders to create a recommended practice that will provide clear guidelines and requirements for safe, performing and long-lived floating solar projects.”
The UAE’s first floating solar plant began operations in February this year. The floating solar farm is located off Nurai island, and can provide up to 80kW of solar energy to the Zaya Nurai resort.
The project was developed by local distributed solar company Enerwhere. Daniel Zywietz, founder and CEO of Enerwhere, joined Energy & Utilities’ recent webinar on the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak on the region’s energy sector.
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