Fred. Olsen 1848 Deploys Successful Pilot Floating Solar Project in Norway, Advancing BRIZO Technology for Commercial Use

Fred. Olsen 1848 proudly announces the successful deployment of its pilot floating solar project in Risør, Norway. The 50×50 meter, 124 kW pilot project has been deployed at sea and is scheduled for commissioning during the spring. This milestone marks an educational and exciting process for Fred. Olsen 1848, providing valuable knowledge and expertise for the development of its floating solar solution, BRIZO.

The pilot project in Risør serves as a crucial testing ground for refining the components of BRIZO’s floating PV technology. Moving forward, the technology will transition to the next phase, focusing on foundational design work to facilitate the development of a 3MW first unit project tailored for commercial application. Insights gained from deploying and operating the pilot project will be instrumental in optimizing the technology for commercial viability.

Key achievements of the pilot project include successful concept scaling, panel module assembly and transport, proven installation feasibility for larger infrastructure, introduction of methodologies for rope mesh installation, and efficient floating access with a catamaran vessel.

Geir Grimsrud, CTO of Fred. Olsen 1848, expressed satisfaction with the project’s outcome, stating, “The process of installing BRIZO in Risør, Norway has gone as expected with a successful outcome. We are delighted to be able to showcase the fundamentals of BRIZO working in a real-life setting and using the knowledge gained from the deployment and operation of BRIZO to fine-tune our components for upcoming projects for commercial use.”

BRIZO is designed to follow the motion of the ocean and withstand ocean environments. Its floating solar modules move individually within a pre-tensioned rope mesh, ensuring flexibility and adaptability to environmental conditions. The design addresses challenges posed by wave and wind loads, showcasing a simple and resilient approach to floating PV technologies.

Key features of BRIZO include individual movements of solar modules, adaptability to environmental forces, simplistic design components, and a cost-efficient O&M solution with an integrated catamaran vessel.

The successful deployment of the pilot project underscores Fred. Olsen 1848’s commitment to advancing renewable energy solutions and marks a significant step forward in the development of BRIZO for commercial applications.