Sunita Somvanshi
La Palma, an island in Spain’s Canary Islands, is making waves in sustainable energy with the recent completion of the BOOST project at Tazacorte port. This floating solar farm, a joint venture between GCL SI and Ocean Sun, showcases a nifty 270 kWp capacity, employing GCL MS/60GT Ocean Sun PV modules. It’s a key player in the realm of floating solar photovoltaics (FPV) technology.
The project, five years in the making, is a testament to the growing prowess of GCL SI and Ocean Sun in renewable energy. They’ve been tinkering with PV modules suited for Ocean Sun’s unique floating solar solution, involving some serious testing – think panels soaked in hot seawater under high voltage. This kind of robust examination ensures these modules are tough cookies, ready for both fresh and saltwater.
What’s cool about these modules? They’re frameless, which means less aluminum and lower costs. They hug the membrane surface, keeping operating temperatures down and boosting power output. They’ve been through the wringer at DNV labs in Singapore, compared against ground systems and other floating tech, and they came out shining, especially in cooling efficiency.
The collaboration extends beyond this project. Remember the Magat installation in the Philippines in 2019 and the Banja dam project in Albania commissioned in January 2023? Those were them, too.
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But BOOST isn’t just about solar panels. It’s a big deal in Europe for ocean-based solar energy, backed by the European Union. Think of it as a step towards making renewable energy more mainstream, in line with the EU’s Solar Energy Strategy.
This project is a group effort, with Innosea, PLOCAN, The Institute of Technology of the Canary Islands (ITC), and Fred Olsen Renewables pitching in. The big reveal included local bigwigs from La Palma and Nieves Lady Barreto, Vice President of the Government of the Canary Islands.
Dr. Børge Bjørneklett of Ocean Sun calls it a “powerful demonstrator” for harnessing sea-based solar resources. Meanwhile, Dr. José Joaquín Hernández Brito of PLOCAN sees it as a leap towards sustainable marine resource use.
BOOST is a step forward for La Palma, a boost for Tazacorte port’s green credentials, and a peek into the next era of renewable energy. It’s the kind of innovation that’s got some serious smarts behind it, without being too showy about it.
