With support from RWE, Dutch-Norwegian company SolarDuck has successfully installed its offshore floating solar (OFPV) pilot project, Merganser. The project, located in the Dutch North Sea about 12 kilometers off the coast of Scheveningen, aims to test and demonstrate various design and operational methodologies necessary for large-scale commercial deployment of OFPV.
Merganser, with a capacity of 0.5 megawatt peak (MWp), consists of six interconnected platforms designed to withstand extreme offshore conditions. These floating platforms were successfully connected to a mooring system in 20 meters of water depth. RWE will continue to provide offshore expertise and technical support to the pilot project.
Sven Utermöhlen, CEO of RWE Offshore Wind, stated, “Standalone or combined with offshore wind farms, offshore floating solar could open up further offshore renewable energy opportunities, especially for countries with lower average wind speeds but lots of sunlight. With Merganser, we are gaining unique insights and first-hand experience in one of the most challenging offshore environments in the world.”
The project uses SolarDuck’s triangular-shaped platform, designed to float several meters above the water and follow the waves like a carpet, ensuring that critical components remain dry, clean, and stable. This design has recently received the world’s first certification for OFPV from Bureau Veritas.
Koen Burgers, CEO of SolarDuck, said, “The successful installation of Merganser is proof of the dedication of SolarDuck’s team to electrify the world with offshore floating solar. Our project partner, RWE, is a supporter of our technology and vision. Together with other partners such as TNO, TU Delft, MARIN, and Deltares, and numerous supply chain partners including Damen Shipyards, TMA, and Norsk Hydro, we have turned hard work into positive change for the energy space.”
Over the next two years, Merganser will be monitored remotely using more than 180 sensors to assess structural loads, connector and mooring loads, and electrical performance. Deltares, a Dutch independent institute for applied research, will also support an extensive monitoring campaign on the ecological impact of OFPV.
The collaboration between RWE’s global market position in offshore wind and SolarDuck’s technological ingenuity aims to accelerate the deployment of OFPV, paving the way for future renewable energy projects in offshore environments.
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