DNV GL has launched a collaborative joint industry project with 14 industry participants to develop the industry’s first recommended practice for floating solar power projects. The planned recommended practice will provide a commonly recognised standard based on a list of technical requirements for developing safe, reliable and sustainable floating solar projects.

Floating solar power is a promising renewable energy technology in which solar panels are installed on floating structures on the surface of suitable bodies of water. The technology offers great potential for green energy production, particularly in areas where there is a shortage of available land for large photovoltaic plants.

The Floating Solar JIP consortium

The Floating Solar JIP consortium features a varied array of companies with extensive experience in the floating solar and related industries. Current members are:

• BayWa r.e. (Ger)
• Blue C Engineering (Ger)
• Carpi Tech/Makor Energy (Swi/Isr)
• Ciel & Terre International (Fra)
• Compagnie Nationale du Rhone (Fra)
• Noria Energy (US)
• EDF  – Électricité de France (Fra)
• EDP – Energias de Portugal S.A. (Por)
• Equinor (Nor)
• Isigenere (Spa)
• Mainstream Renewable Power (UK)
• Scatec Solar (Nor)
• Seaflex (Swe)
• Statkraft (Nor)

Following the first projects in 2006, installed capacity for floating solar power was just 10 MW by 2015 but has accelerated considerably since then, reaching 3 GWpeak by the end of 2019. It is estimated that the total global potential capacity for deploying floating solar power on manmade, inland waters alone could be as high as 4 TW.

Despite this huge potential, there are as yet no harmonized standard approaches to developing floating solar power projects and no industry standards to ensure quality. This makes it difficult for investors, regulators and other stakeholders to have confidence in planned projects and to enforce relevant requirements, which could potentially put a break on the technology’s growth.

Responding to the industry’s need, DNV GL launched an initiative to develop a floating solar recommended practice via its industry-based, collaborative JIP (Joint Industry Project) approach. DNV GL has put together an international consortium of leading companies from the offshore, solar and floating structure manufacturing industries.

“As currently being the largest floating PV developer in Europe, BayWa r.e. is happy to be part of this consortium to develop this important guideline for the floating PV industry. We think establishing uniform high standards for Floating PV power plants will help to mature and enhance the Floating PV industry, therefore we are excited to bring in our extensive knowledge from the successfully realized Floating PV projects,” said Toni Weigl, Project Manager at BayWa r.e.

“Floating solar is a rapidly expanding technology with huge potential to help nations decarbonize, 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. 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,” added Prajeev Rasiah, Executive Vice President for DNV GL’s Energy business in Northern Europe, Middle East and Africa.

The JIP will look at all aspects of developing floating solar projects on inland and inshore waters. It will focus on five key topics: site conditions assessment, energy yield forecast, mooring & anchoring systems, floating structures, permitting and environmental impact.

By not limiting itself to any specific floating solar technology, the consortium aims to define requirements and guidelines that can be applied in practical manner to all floating solar projects.

Drawing on existing standards from related sectors, the consortium plans to develop a draft guideline document by the end of 2020. This will be made available for widespread industry consultation before the publication of the verified recommended practice, currently scheduled for Q1 2021.

“The results of the JIP will be a great enabler of floating solar going mainstream, by providing a set of guidelines that will accelerate the development of successful and safe floating solar projects. I encourage all the players in the value chain of the industry to use the recommended practice when it will be published,” added Andrés Franco, CEO of Isigenere.

Other companies with relevant expertise plus an interest and commitment to driving growth in floating solar are welcome to apply to join the consortium.

DNV GL, the world’s largest resource of independent energy experts and certification body, today announced that it has signed a contract with Sing Da Marine Structure, a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Steel Corporation to support the government’s localization efforts towards offshore project development and building up of the local supply chain in Taiwan.

The signing ceremony was held in the SDMS office, with DNV GL representatives dialling in virtually to participate in the occasion.

This new collaboration between DNV GL and SDMS follows the conclusion of a successful partnership between DNV GL and CSC, where DNV GL experts supported CSC in the development of its Zone 29 offshore wind farm with technical inputs and specialist support based on their experience around the globe.

The Bureau of Energy, Ministry of Economic Affairs aims for 20% of electricity generation, or 30GW, to come from renewables by 2025. Offshore wind is expected be a main enabler in achieving this target, contributing 5.7GW out of the 30GW planned.

On top of the 2025 goal, additional offshore wind generation capacity of 1GW / year has been announced for the years 2026-2035 as part of the Phase III Zonal Development plans. Taking into account the 10GW slated for the upcoming Phase III auction, a total of 15.7GW of offshore wind will be constructed in Taiwan by 2035. With the localization requirements set by the government, the need for a self-sustaining supply chain be key to meet this rapid development.

This collaboration will bring together DNV GL’s experience from established offshore markets such as Europe, and SDMS’ strong knowledge in steel manufacturing to meet the above targets. DNV GL will provide SDMS with risk mitigation advice around technical, logistical, and quality during its jacket fabrication process.

With these localization efforts, international developers entering Taiwan will be able to tap on local talents and companies like SDMS in the various stages of offshore project development. An SDMS spokesperson said, “As we gear up to prepare for the Phase III auctions, DNV GL’s global experience, combined with their understanding of the local requirements, will be key for us to provide top quality support structures for offshore wind projects in Taiwan.”

Minghui Zhang, Head of Section, Renewables Advisory Taiwan at DNV GL – Energy said, “DNV GL has been supporting various international and local stakeholders since the offshore wind sector started in Taiwan. We are excited to bring this knowledge into our partnership with SDMS, and looking forward to supporting more local players and knowledge sharing initiatives to help accelerate the growth of this promising market.”

Norsepower Oy Ltd., the leading global provider of auxiliary renewable wind propulsion systems, and Scandlines, a market leader in green ferry operation, today announced the successful installation of Norsepower’s Rotor Sail Solution. This was completed in just hours during a scheduled overnight stop on board the Scandlines’ hybrid ferry M/V Copenhagen.

The M/V Copenhagen, a hybrid passenger ferry operating between Rostock, Germany and Gedser, Denmark, was retrofitted with a Norsepower Rotor Sail unit measuring 30m in height and 5m in diameter. The installation was completed in a matter of hours, following meticulous preparation over the past few months.

The Norsepower Rotor Sail Solution – which can be installed on new vessels or retrofitted on existing ships – is a modernised version of the Flettner rotor, a spinning cylinder that uses the Magnus effect to harness wind power to thrust a ship. The installation, the fourth successfully completed by Norsepower, is estimated to reduce emissions by an estimated 4-5% on average without compromising pre-retrofit speed and voyage times.

Commenting on the installation, Tuomas Riski, CEO, Norsepower, said: “We are delighted to announce this latest successful installation of the Rotor Sail, which demonstrates that retrofitting can be achieved without any interruption and downtime to day to day commercial operations. Scandlines has a strong track record of investing in new clean technologies that save emissions onboard its fleet. The addition of Norsepower’s Rotor Sail makes the M/V Copenhagen one of the world’s most energy-efficient ferries.

“With increasing international regulatory and public pressure on the maritime industry to decarbonise, it is essential for the industry to recognise the value of one of the oldest forms of propulsion – wind. The market for wind propulsion is increasing, and this installation demonstrates how combining all methods of vessel optimisation is key to broader progress.”

Scandlines CEO, Søren Poulsgaard Jensen, added: “We see huge value in investing in technology with the ultimate goal of reducing emissions. Working with Norsepower on this innovative solution was a perfect fit with our values and ambitions regarding sustainable shipping. On our modern, hybrid ferry, this solution will sit alongside hydrodynamic hull optimisation, and a hybrid electric propulsion system with a battery powered energy storage system, improving not only our efficiency but also profitability. We look forward to seeing the instant benefits of this technology.”

The Rotor Sail is the first data verified and commercially operational auxiliary wind propulsion technology for the global maritime industry. The solution is fully automated and detects whenever the wind is strong enough to deliver emission savings, at which point the Rotor Sails start automatically.