NaturSea-pv project advances MARIN's modelling techniques for flexible structures
Conference/JournalMARIN Report 143
Date5 Mar 2025
NaturSea-PV is a project within the Horizon Europe research and innovation programme addressing the need for a sustainable, reliable and competitive energy supply. A water lily-inspired Offshore Floating Photovoltaic (OFPV) solution will be developed.
The lily’s structure of radial and tangential girders will be researched and engineered using flexible, eco-friendly Ultra High-Performance Concrete. The concrete girders support a lightweight sheet, which spans the construction like an umbrella, providing sufficient carrying capacity for the PV panels, as well as maintenance technicians.
The lily’s structure of radial and tangential girders will be researched and engineered using flexible, eco-friendly Ultra High-Performance Concrete. The concrete girders support a lightweight sheet, which spans the construction like an umbrella, providing sufficient carrying capacity for the PV panels, as well as maintenance technicians.
Contact
William Otto
senior project manager
Water lily inspiration
This sheet will have openings to ensure sufficient sunlight reaches the water surface and will also serve to minimise the risk of uplift and buckling by the wind. To reduce the effect of the waves, the concrete web will be raised well above the water by small diameter floating columns. Elevating the construction above the water surface will prevent wave overtopping and reduces the overall wave excitation and formation of fouling on the PV panels.
The concrete girders support a lightweight sheet
The NATURSEA-PV prototype
The NatureSea-PV project aims to develop a lily-inspired offshore floating PV system, built using a newly developed, eco-friendly UHPC material that is both flexible and resilient against harsh environmental conditions.
Tags
offshoreoffshore energyfloating solarrenewable energy