UK Invests £3 Million To Advance National Floating And Deepwater Wind Test Site

The Port of València now hosts both 500 kW PV-bos platforms that make up the 1 MW offshore floating solar energy demonstrator developed by BlueNewables. With the installation of the second unit, BlueNewables, with the support of Naturgy, has completed the deployment of the demonstrator, which is now entering its testing phase to validate the performance of this technology under real operating conditions.

The two PV-bos platforms, built at the San Enrique shipyard in Vigo, have been named ‘Paiporta’ and ‘Catarroja’ in tribute to two of the Valencian municipalities most severely affected by the devastating floods of 2024 (DANA). The first unit was named ‘Paiporta’, while the second was named ‘Catarroja’.

The project is now entering its testing and monitoring phase in the waters of the Port of València. The aim is to gain insights into how this technology operates in a real marine environment and to assess aspects related to its performance, operation, maintenance and integration into port areas. This phase is part of the demonstrator’s validation process, so the results and lessons learned will be obtained as its operation progresses.

PV-bos expands the potential applications of solar energy in locations where land availability is limited or prohibitively expensive, electricity grids are insufficient, or island energy systems are in place. The solution developed by BlueNewables is designed to be modular, scalable and suitable for industrial-scale production, facilitating its adaptation to different locations and project models. This approach makes it possible to bring electricity generation closer to points of consumption and make use of new surfaces to produce clean energy without competing for land onshore.

Innovation as a driving force for energy transformation

The installation of the demonstrator and the start of its testing phase in the waters of the Port of València are part of Valenciaport’s strategy to move towards a more sustainable, innovative and efficient port model. In this context, the Port Authority of València is developing a testing platform designed to connect, test and feed electricity generated by marine renewable energy technology demonstrators into the power grid, which may remain available for future projects.

During the 16th ENERMAR Technical Conference, held in València, participants had the opportunity to learn about the project first-hand through a visit to the offshore solar platforms. The visit was part of the conference programme, organised by the Renewable Energy Working Group of the Spanish Association of Naval and Ocean Engineers, which focuses on the analysis of marine renewable energy technologies.

Naturgy and BlueNewables will also collaborate over a two-year period to exchange technical, operational, strategic and economic information arising from the development of the project, both during the testing phase and subsequent monitoring. This collaboration will include the analysis of performance data, technical incidents, costs, operational aspects and lessons learned to assess the potential of this technology.

The installation is part of RENMARINAS VALENCIAPORT, an initiative funded by IDAE through the European Union’s NextGenerationEU funds, designed as a demonstration environment for marine renewable energy technologies. Within this framework, the Port Authority of València has developed the testing area and associated infrastructure, while BlueNewables is participating with its 1 MW floating photovoltaic demonstrator, consisting of two 500 kW PV-bos platforms.

Offshore floating solar photovoltaics opens up new opportunities to expand the use of renewable energy resources in marine environments. Their potential to complement other technologies, particularly offshore wind power, together with their applications in ports, islands and other coastal infrastructure, makes them one of the most promising emerging solutions for advancing the decarbonisation of the energy system.

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