The first floating offshore solar installation within an offshore wind farm is already taking shape in the North Sea. Oceans of Energy completed the installation of the anchoring system that will ensure the stability of a floating solar array, located 22 km off the coast of the Netherlands, within the Hollandse Kust Noord wind farm.
A key mooring system for mixed energy
The marine anchoring system was installed with the support of Boskalis and Muller Dordrecht and will connect the solar farm to the foundations of a nearby wind turbine via an electrical cable. electrical cable specifically designed for this environment. This connection will enable continuous power delivery, taking advantage of the synergies between the solar and wind resources.
Allard van Hoeken, CEO of Oceans of Energy, noted that this is the first time a floating solar plant has been installed inside an operational wind farm, opening the door to up to five times more energy production without expanding the use of marine space.
CrossWind and floating solar energy
CrossWind, a joint venture between Shell and Eneco, operates the Hollandse Kust Noord wind farm. Its offshore solar project manager, Jeroen van Loon, said that the reliability of the anchoring system will be essential to ensure the coordinated operation of the solar plant alongside the wind turbines. This stage is part of a strategy to maximize generation in variable conditions and mitigate the intermittency of wind power.
The interconnection cable, manufactured by the Swedish company NKT, has already passed factory acceptance tests and has been delivered for installation.
This project seeks to demonstrate that floating solar energy can efficiently coexist with existing wind infrastructure, generating electricity without affecting onshore availability. In addition to its productive potential, this combination represents a replicable model for future offshore developments.
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Source and photo: Oceans of Energy
