OFFSHORE WIND
The first floating solar platform was constructed at Damen Shipyards in Gorinchem.
SolarDuck launches first floating solar panel platform SOLARDUCK, A DUTCH RENEWABLE ENERGY START-UP, RECENTLY LAUNCHED ITS FIRST FLOATING SOLAR ENERGY PROJECT. THE PROJECT – ALSO CALLED THE DEMONSTRATOR – CONSISTS OF FOUR TRIANGULAR PLATFORMS COVERED WITH SOLAR PANELS RESTING ON FLOATERS.
T
he floating platforms were towed upriver from Gorinchem, where they were built at Damen Shipyards, to its test location in IJzendoorn. “I’m incredibly proud”, says Don Hoogendoorn, SolarDuck’s CTO. “For months, we have been perfecting the technological design, after which we built the Demonstrator within seven months. From a technological point of view – our team has over 80 years of shared experience in maritime technology – we knew the
platforms were built robustly, but a 50km high-speed towing route is the ultimate real-life test. During such a path, the forces are far beyond those you would experience at sea. And our platforms passed the test with flying colours.” “This Demonstrator – our first project – is only the beginning”, confirms Head of Business Development, Olaf de Swart. Although the company has only been in
ALL PHOTOS COURTESTY OF SOLARDUCK.
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