2023-08-15 04:00:00
A consortium of Belgian companies is currently testing the installation of solar panels in the North Sea. A promising technology that makes the most of the space lost between offshore wind turbines, without hindering maritime traffic. This could provide equivalent capacity to a nuclear power plant.
A pontoon, covered with photovoltaic panels, designed to withstand the assaults of the high seas. This is the technology that is currently being tested by a consortium of Belgian companies. The device is preparing to spend a year in the North Sea. A first step to optimize its operation.
“The performance of the panels can be measured. There will be batteries in it, we will be able to constantly monitor to recover as much data as possible“, explains Tine Boon, SeaVolt coordinator. The goal: “Make the right technical and economic choices for the next phase, to make a large installation.“
Ultimately, this type of “on point“can be anchored in wind farms in the North Sea. Today, for technical reasons, each wind turbine is installed at least one kilometer from its neighbour. Waste space that the authorities wish to make profitable. Vincent Van Quickenborne, Minister of Justice, states: “Since the spaces between the wind turbines cannot be used, we think that by putting photovoltaic pontoons between these wind turbines, we will increase the yield of our renewable energy..”
8 gigawatts d’ici 2050
Especially since Belgium relies on its offshore wind farms. The capacity installed today represents 8% of the country’s annual electricity consumption. The authorities have planned to build a second park with a higher capacity. By replacing aging wind turbines and installing photovoltaic pontoons, our country hopes to have 8 gigawatts in the North Sea by 2050. This new technology is therefore important for reducing our greenhouse gas emissions.
It is also a plus for the marine life that can develop there. “We cultivated a few kilos of mussels and 500 flat oysters per basket under the structures“, shows Annelies Declercq, professor of aquaculture at the University of Ghent. This study project is partly funded by the federal government. The authorities have allocated a budget of 2 million euros.
photovoltaic panels renewable energy
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