Technology/Science
Case Study by Triodos Investment Management
Floating Solar Panels - A Big Stepping Stone Towards the Energy Transition GIVEN OUR LEADING ROLE as financial innovators in the renewable energy market, it was perfectly natural for Triodos Groenfonds to finance the first large-scale floating solar plant in Europe. This floating plant is in Tynaarlo in the north of the Netherlands and is exploited by GroenLeven, a highly experienced solar project developer. In this interview, GroenLeven CEO Roland Pechtold explains the need for innovation to step up the energy transition. Dual purpose Big changes have small beginnings. The Netherlands are on the threshold of a huge transition, presenting an unprecedented challenge. From fossil energy sources to renewable power, from centralised to decentralised generation, in the face of an ever-increasing demand for power. Roland Pechtold, CEO of GroenLeven, outlines the dilemmas and the need to take steps forward. “The Netherlands generates less renewable energy than any other country in Europe. We are right at the bottom of the class. That is a disgrace.” GroenLeven is the market leader in the development of large-scale solar power projects in the Netherlands, specialising in solar farms with a dual purpose. In Tynaarlo, in the Dutch province of Drenthe, the company last year realised one of the largest floating solar farms in Europe, on a lake owned and created by sand extraction company Roelofs. The 23,000 panels have a capacity of 8.4 megawatts and supply enough power for around 2,300 households.
activities. The support of investors is very important for our company. A great deal of research needs to be carried out with regard to technical, ecological and social issues and in terms of logistics. We learn from that. Certainly not just yet, but eventually, in the longer run, solar power may no longer need to be subsidised, because we will be able to install increasingly efficient solar farms.” Roland Pechtold, CEO GroenLeven refers to the development of offshore wind power, which is now no longer dependent on subsidies. The same applies to solar farms that are being constructed in Spain and closer to the equator. Due to the greater number of sunshine hours, solar farms in that part of the world can already break even without subsidies. For GroenLeven the project in Tynaarlo constitutes an important stepping stone in the process to make the Netherlands fossil free. The company first gained experience with panels on a floating structure by installing an experimental arrangement on a small lake near the Friesian village of Oosterwolde. The special panels let light through, so that plants and animals that live in the water underneath are affected as little as possible. The construction method developed by GroenLeven was tested extensively, in order to ensure that it has no negative impact on the environment but is also able to withstand the impact of wind and waves. “We found that during gales they remain steady as a rock.”
Public support essential GroenLeven closely monitors the impact on flora and fauna. According to Pechtold, local residents feared that birds such as geese would Subsidy and private finance The innovative project was made possible by a start avoiding the lakes. But in fact, quite the government subsidy under the Stimulation of opposite has happened. The lakes were created Sustainable Energy (SDE) scheme and substantial as a result of sand extraction and are only partly co-funding by Triodos Groenfonds. “Really great covered by floating panels. The resulting sheltered that we received this contribution. This allowed us areas actually attract waterfowl. The experience to realise the solar farm and further develop our gained in Tynaarlo will get a follow-up through the
68
November-December 2020
DAWN
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