SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, December 14 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The prototype of the floating photovoltaic solar power plant of the ‘BOOST’ project was presented this Thursday in the waters of the port of Tazacorte, west of the island of La Palma, by the members of the consortium leading the project.
“It is the largest floating solar energy system successfully deployed in the ocean in all of Europe,” declared Joaquín Hernández, director of the Canary Islands Ocean Platform (PLOCAN).
The inauguration of the floating photovoltaic plant was attended by the Minister of the Presidency, Public Administrations, Justice and Security of the Government of the Canary Islands, Nieves Lady Barreto; the Minister of Ecological Transition and Energy of the Government of the Canary Islands, Mariano Hernández Zapata; the general director of Coasts and Management of the Canarian maritime space, Antonio Acosta; the Minister of Industry and Energy of the Cabildo of La Palma, Fernando González and the mayor of the Tazacorte City Council, Manuel González, among other authorities.
During the official presentation, the representative of the regional government highlighted the crucial role of the Canarian ports in the decarbonization strategy, while “the coast of Tazacorte will serve as pilot test of what could be the beginning of the path towards neutralizing the footprint.” of carbon thanks to the use of energy from renewable sources such as solar.
According to the Minister of the Presidency, “we must be grateful that after the volcano, entities like PLOCAN continue to do more work in La Palma with unique and pioneering projects that make us an attractive center for science, technology and innovation.”
In this sense, BOOST represents a fundamental step in the transition towards energy sustainability.
“This project is crucial to advance the penetration of renewable energies in the archipelago, investment in scientific advances that allow the implementation of innovative projects is essential to advance the transition towards the sustainability model that we seek for the Canary Islands,” said Mariano Hernández. Zapata, who firmly believes that “in La Palma you can innovate, this is a clear example that PLOCAN should be thanked, it is a real marine solar energy solution that has full support.”
In fact, this platform has advantages such as the absence of noise, reduces visual impact and is very cheap to produce.
“It is a pride as the Department of Public Works, both in the General Directorate of Coasts and in Canary Islands, to present a project that has both a scientific and technological background and a future for La Palma and the Canary Islands. We will bet with PLOCAN on similar projects, starting of the Port of Tazacorte as a pilot test,” said Antonio Acosta.
In his words, “this would not be possible without the collaboration of Acuipalma and the support of Puertos Canarios and the Island Council, among other entities.”
ALMOST HALF A GIGAWATT PER YEAR
Specifically, the platform generates around 440,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year, almost half a gigawatt hour (GWh) per year, which could mean that “100 families would have free electricity throughout the year, even recharging their electric car with just a platform like this,” clarified the Councilor for Industry and Energy.
Along these lines he added that “it is a unique opportunity in Europe to see a project of this magnitude that comes to improve and complement the energy supply, having an optimal energy return rate for sustainable development, so it has all the support.”
For his part, the representative of the municipal corporation stressed the importance of this project to advance the decarbonization of the beautiful island, “being proud that it is installed in the Port of Tazacorte.”
In addition, he highlighted the commitment of the local government group to continue working on the protection and care of the environment while making the port and the municipality “a center of technological innovation in the marine-maritime field.”
According to the director of PLOCAN, Joaquín Herández, the BOOST project in the Canary Islands symbolizes “significant progress towards the sustainable use of our marine and maritime resources, demonstrating how innovation and collaboration can offer effective solutions to global challenges such as climate change and energy transformation”.
In his opinion, this is just the beginning of what could be exported to other islands or abroad, in addition to being an example and opportunity for technological development for the island.
For the Department of Universities, Science and Innovation and Culture “it is a driving project that will diversify the Canarian economy as a whole, also reaching the non-capital islands,” argued Javier Roo, head of R&D&i at the Agency. Canarian Research, Innovation and Information Society (ACIISI).
BLUE ECONOMY
“The blue economy industry is a driver of this change and this project is an example where it unites private investment, research centers and public entities, La Palma is a clear example of an R&D&I ecosystem,” he said. Roo.
This prototype is the most technologically developed and the largest to be deployed at sea in all of Europe, an example of how we can use the sea’s unlimited solar resources.
“The successful performance of the special membrane solution implemented that withstands storms and waves of several meters high in these waters will pave the way for an abundant supply of affordable renewable energy,” said Borge Bjorneklett, CEO and founder of Ocean Sun.
The prototype is the final milestone of an exhaustive three-year R&D project.
Rolf Benjamin Johansen, representative of Fred Olsen Renewables, expressed his satisfaction at “seeing this achievement that demonstrates that a cost-effective solution for floating solar photovoltaic technology in coastal areas is possible, with great potential for energy production worldwide.”
The European BOOST project has strategic partners in the United Kingdom, France, Norway and Spain.
EUROPEAN CONSORTIUM
Representing the European consortium, coordinated by the Norwegian company Ocean Sun, are strategic partners such as the French consulting firm Innosea or Fred Olsen Renewables, which currently operates wind farms in Scotland, Norway and Sweden.
Specifically in the Canary Islands, the consortium has key entities such as PLOCAN or the Canary Islands Technological Institute (ITC).
Solar PV has become the world’s fastest growing energy technology, with the annual global market surpassing the 100 gigawatt (GW) level for the first time in 2018 and cumulative capacity reaching 583.5 GW in 2019.
However, floating marine photovoltaic plants are still in an incipient stage due to the challenges posed by open sea conditions, PLOCAN highlights in a note.
BOOST addresses these challenges with a new floating PV plant system inspired in part by float-and-moor technology that has been used for 20 years in Norwegian waters by the fish farming industry.
“This flotation and mooring technology is combined with a patented disruptive floating hydroelastic membrane that is attached to an outer perimeter of floating tubing so that the float will not be swept away by the mooring, even in strong currents, winds and waves,” concluded Bjorneklett. , CEO of Ocean Sun.
