Offshore photovoltaics
Experts see a need for research into PV systems at sea
Electricity can be produced from the wind on the North Sea. But what about solar energy? Scientists see potential for floating PV systems on the sea – but questions still arise.
According to experts, a lot of research is still necessary for the possible use of floating photovoltaic systems in the German North Sea. What needs to be clarified is how the materials of a floating PV system, also known as floating PV, will survive under the environmental conditions at sea, says Bengt Jäckel, who researches at the Fraunhofer Center for Silicon Photovoltaics in Halle. “Unlike a wind turbine at sea, with floating PV, wind and waves set the entire system in motion around the clock. That’s something new,” said the scientist to the German Press Agency.
Floating solar power plants have so far been used on inland waters such as flooded opencast mining areas or reservoirs. There are also initial approaches to testing the technology in the North Sea. In addition to the availability of space at sea, experts also see synergies through grid connections of offshore wind farms as possible advantages. Last year, a pilot plant was installed off the Dutch coast with the participation of RWE.
So far no projects in German coastal waters
In addition to other technical questions, such as what materials the PV systems and support structures must be made of, research is also needed into the influence on marine ecology, said Jäckel. Basically, research is still at the beginning of understanding the question of the interaction between the water system and floating PV systems.
The responsible Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) in Hamburg also shares this assessment. Upon request, the authority stated that it was currently not possible to estimate whether an installation in the German Bight would be technically possible. “The technical feasibility depends on the technology used and would have to be investigated by a project sponsor.” There have been no inquiries about this so far.
According to Jäckel, there are currently no known pilot projects in the German coastal region. “The neighboring countries are a little more active.” In order for the technology to make a contribution to the energy transition, it needs a high level of reliability. This requires more pilot projects to test the components under environmental conditions at sea over the course of years.
dpa
Source: Stern
