Tractebel and partners launch offshore floating solar technology

Belgian partners Tractebel, DEME, and Jan De Nul have jointly developed a new offshore floating solar technology able to operate in harsh marine conditions.

The technology, called SEAVOLT, has a modular design and allows for standard solar panels to be built on a platform high above the waves.

The partners have finished the laboratory testing phase and are now developing an offshore demonstration installation which will be launched off the Belgian coast this year.

Philippe Van Troeye, Tractebel CEO: “Along with offshore green fuel production, offshore energy islands, interconnectors, and potential solutions for energy storage, we believe offshore floating PV has an important role to play in the acceleration of the energy transition.

"While this technology is still in its infancy, we are convinced that with such strong partners on board we are giving SEAVOLT all possible chances to succeed.”

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Together with Ghent University and backed by funding from the Flemish government’s Agency for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, the partners started developing the marine floater concept four years ago.

According to Tractebel, interest in this technology is spurred by issues around land scarcity coupled with the need to boost local production.

Also, wind and solar technology are complementary, which means floating solar can be added to current and future offshore wind sites supported by multi-use concessions.

Philippe Hutse, offshore director at Jan De Nul Group: "As the offshore wind industry continues to grow, we believe that it has the potential to play a crucial role in optimizing the use of space on the sea by complementing offshore wind farms. We are excited to see how SEAVOLT will shape the future of renewable energy and contribute to a more sustainable future."