Innosea joins Suntrace-led team to work on Maldives floating solar project

German independent renewable energy advisor Suntrace GmbH has welcomed marine renewables specialist Innosea into a consortium that is tasked with supporting the government of the Maldives to develop a floating solar photovoltaic (PV) project at sea.

Also on the Suntrace-led team are Maldivian firm Renewable Energy Maldives Pvt Ltd and two environmental and social consultants, Hamburg-based expert said.

The group will provide technical support to the Maldivian government to develop floating solar power systems near various islands within the archipelago state. The effort is part of the World Bank-funded Accelerating Renewable Energy Integration and Sustainable Energy (ARISE) programme.

Innosea, which is part of Norway-based energy and marine consultancy AqualisBraemar LOC ASA (OSE: AQUA), will provide preliminary estimates of the potential for floating solar in two regions of the archipelago. Its other duties will include providing proposals on international best practices for floating solar project development, support to the upcoming tendering process and coordination for the deployment of a 12-month site-specific data collection, Suntrace said.

The assignment includes a 12-month current and wave measurement campaign to qualify site conditions and allow for further site selection and the plant design, the statement reads.

“We are getting used to large 3-digit MW solar photovoltaic power plants, but we forget the significant impact that just 1 MWp can do for communities in small islands,” commented Raul Granados, Head of Renewable Energy Resources at Suntrace.

Innosea’s background in the floating solar PV market includes contributions to over 50 projects in 12 countries and up to 1,500 MWp of capacity.

“We enjoy the challenge of every renewable project we are involved with. Nonetheless, given the Maldives’ vulnerable situation with regards to rising ocean levels caused by global warming, this project is especially meaningful,” added Benoit Briere, Senior Project Manager at Innosea.

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