Other types of marine energy

3

Other types of Marine Energy

Floating Wind Energy | Floating Solar Energy

Floating Wind Energy

Offshore wind is one of the biggest growing energy sectors in the world. All large windparks to date however, are based on bottom fixed wind turbines, with piles driven into the sandy seabed or with large gravity foundations. These technologies are limited to a water depth of around 50 metres. In deeper water floating technologies need to be deployed.

Floating wind turbines make use of the same turbine units as existing bottom-fixed offshore wind parks. The turbines with a capacity of 3 - 15 MW are placed on top of a floater which is moored to anchors on the seabed. Due to this however, the turbine is subject to much more motion from interaction with waves as well as the wind. Floaters and mooring systems are designed to minimise material use while at the same time reduce motion of the turbine to minimise loads on the blades. Typical floaters are for example spar type cylindrical floaters or semi-submersible platforms, of which various designs exist.

The floating offshore wind market is large across the world. It is especially suitable for areas with high water depth, like for example the Atlantic Coast. First commercial installations exist in Portugal, Scotland and France and a rapid growth, based on support from the existing supply chain for bottom fixed offshore wind, is to be expected.

Floating Solar Energy

Solar energy has long been the key driver for growth of renewable energy. This has also resulted in very mature and cost efficient technologies. Due to reduced available space on land and improved cooling in water, floating solar projects have gained traction.

Floating solar refers to photovoltaic panels mounted on a floating platform. The floating structure is anchored to the sea bed thanks to a mooring system. Floating solar on inland lakes and ponds is already an established industry, showing very high growth rates over the last years. However these structures are not suited for offshore application, because of higher wind, wave and tidal current loads on the structure. Companies from the Netherlands, France, Germany, Austria and Norway have developed and deployed structures around the world that are able to withstand the extreme forces at the open sea. Different technical routes are pursued for offshore floating solar.

At the same time floating solar systems do allow for an efficient use of offshore space. By using the space between offshore wind turbines, the density of renewable energy extracted per km2 can be greatly improved. Additionally, maintenance boats, electricity export infrastructure and supply chains can be efficiently shared for both technologies.

First tender responses for combined floating solar and offshore wind parks have been seen already for Dutch wind parks.

MEA SME’s working on other types of Marine Energy

 Dolfines  Dublin Offshore

Consultants Ltd.  EOLink  Farwind  Floating Energy Systems Ltd  HelioRec  Lhyfe  Oceans of Energy B.V.  SolarDuck  Solarge B.V.  SolarinBlue  Stiesdal  WITT