Dutch-Norwegian Firm SolarDuck Conducts Basin Tests for Updated Floating Solar Platform Design
SolarDuck, a Dutch-Norwegian firm, recently carried out basin tests for its revised floating solar platform design at the renowned Maritime Research Institute Netherlands (MARIN).
The tests were a crucial part of the DEI+ Merganser project consortium and were conducted at MARIN’s Offshore Basin, a specialized facility that replicates wind and wave conditions for scale model experiments.
“These model tests provide valuable insights into the dynamic behavior of our platforms and ensure their durability in the harsh offshore conditions they will be deployed in,” stated Rahul Chitteth Ramachandran, SolarDuck’s Hydrodynamic Specialist.
SolarDuck expressed satisfaction with the insights gained from the tests and revealed plans to test 54 interconnected platforms in the basin before summer.
The Offshore Basin at MARIN is specifically designed to simulate and analyze the behavior of offshore structures under varying conditions such as waves, wind, and currents. The facility, measuring 45m x 36m x 10.2m, includes a pit with a depth of 20 meters and a diameter of 5 meters to accommodate systems up to 3000 meters in depth (prototype).
The DEI+ Merganser Project
The DEI+ Merganser project involves collaboration with MARIN, TNO, Deltares, TU Delft’s Technology, Policy and Management department, and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency.
Merganser serves as an operational laboratory for SolarDuck and its consortium partners to gather essential data on platform motions, energy output, and marine life beneath the water surface.
Located approximately 12 kilometers off the coast of Scheveningen, Merganser features a scalable design with six interconnected platforms engineered to withstand severe offshore conditions.
Future Plans and Developments
In July 2024, SolarDuck, in collaboration with offshore wind developer RWE, successfully installed the Merganser offshore photovoltaic (OFPV) project at the North Sea Farmers offshore test site in the Dutch North Sea.
Over the next two years, Merganser will undergo remote monitoring utilizing over 180 sensors to track structural, connector, mooring, and electrical performance for further technological exploration. Additionally, the Dutch research institute Deltares will conduct a comprehensive ecological impact assessment of the floating solar project.
Furthermore, in August 2024, SolarDuck announced the successful endurance of the Teal OFPV demonstration plant in Tokyo Bay, Japan, during its first severe weather test.