The Offshore Solar Platform (POS) was officially launched early this year. The platform consists of a range of Dutch companies looking to develop and roll out offshore solar parks.
Generate 3 gigawatt peak (GWp) of solar energy by 2030. That is the goal POS has set itself. Among other things, POS wants to enter into discussions with the government, grid operator Tennet and other sectors and shareholders operating in the North Sea. In this way, the parties want to accelerate the rollout of offshore solar parks.
Various parties involved
The project involves several parties, including research organisation TNO, developer of floating solar parks SolarDuck, player in offshore solar parks Oceans of Energy and specialist in tanker-based production and storage systems Bluewater Energy Services.
The parties stress the importance of good cooperation within the industry with the government. For instance, an adequate legal framework and the right legislation around the integration of solar parks into the energy system can accelerate the development of offshore solar parks in the Netherlands. POS states that in that case, the target of 3GWp of solar energy by 2030 is "easily achievable".
Opportunities for Dutch companies
The parties involved also point to opportunities that the development of technology around offshore solar parks offers for Dutch companies. These include opportunities around the export of innovative Dutch technology.
If we want to generate green energy on a large scale, this requires smart use of the scarce space available in the Netherlands, POS argues. TNO wants to make it possible to generate renewable energy on any surface within ten years. Both landscape conservation and impact on the natural world are given full attention. In cooperation with partners, TNO wants to develop innovations like floating solar parks and energy-generating buildings and infrastructure.
Author: Wouter Hoeffnagel
Image: PublicDomainPictures via Pixabay
