SolarDuck achieves prototype certification for offshore solar tech

Dutch-Norwegian company SolarDuck said Wednesday it has secured the world’s first prototype certification for a floating offshore solar technology from testing, inspection and certification outfit Bureau Veritas (BV).

The certification is for the company’s 520-kWp Merganser offshore floating solar pilot. Supported by RWE, the project consists of six interconnected platforms and has been certified to withstand a maximum wave height of 11.6 meters (38 ft) at a water depth of 21.5 meters at the North Sea Farmers test site. It will be deployed in a real-world environment in the North Sea, off the coast of The Hague, Netherlands.

The certification of the Merganser prototype follows the Approval in Principle (AiP) awarded by Bureau Veritas for its floating structure. In the next phase, the technology will be further evaluated for a type certification.

“A key step in making the technology bankable is obtaining certification of the technology. As long-standing partners, SolarDuck has cooperated closely together with Bureau Veritas to verify the technology for the harsh North Sea conditions, marking a significant milestone in the development of our offshore floating solar technology,” said SolarDuck CTO Don Hoogendoorn.

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