Grant awarded to advance floating solar research in offshore environments

Oriol Colomés Gené, Assistant Professor at Technische Universiteit Delft in Offshore Engineering, has received the NWO Vidi grant for the DigiOcean4Solar project to develop a first-of-its-kind digital ocean model designed to assess floating solar farms. 

DigiOcean4Solar, short for a Digital Ocean environment for floating Solar farm assessment, is set to advance research on renewable energy efficiency and will enable the study of interactions between waves, wind, and floating solar structures.

With offshore locations emerging as a promising solution for renewable energy, several companies are exploring floating solar farms at sea. According to the Delft University of Technology, the solar platforms, some spanning up to a square kilometer, are ideally situated near offshore wind farms to leverage existing grid connections.

However, questions remain about how large solar arrays interact with wind and waves, and how these dynamics might impact energy production.

Colomés is working on an advanced digital model to simulate these interactions. “A model of the whole system, at the scale of an entire farm, is not yet available,” Colomés noted. “With the model, we can eventually optimise energy production.”

The research aims to refine offshore solar farm designs, especially when multiple platforms are constructed in proximity. “If one island affects its surroundings, such as waves, the design of a second one behind it should be different,” Colomés explained.

As floating solar technology advances, this digital ocean model will aid in optimizing farm layouts and boosting energy efficiency, creating a solid foundation for advancements in offshore solar development, Delft University of Technology noted.

“I would also like to thank all colleagues from Delft University of Technology that supported me in this process, with especial emphasis to the colleagues from the Innovation and Impact Centre,” added Colomés.

Partners and collaborators that supported this project and vision include Deltares, SolarDuck, Oceans of Energy, Ocean Sun, MARIN (Maritime Research Institute Netherlands), NIOO-KNAW, DNV, Blue21, Ventolines, and others.

The NWO Talent Program aims to provide creative space for talented, pioneering researchers, empowering them to pursue research of their choice, establish independent lines of inquiry, and further develop their expertise. Vidi grants offer up to €850,000 in funding.