Offshore installation works have been successfully completed for the anchoring system of the first offshore solar farm in the world to be installed within an offshore wind farm. The anchoring system will hold the solar farm, supplied by Oceans of Energy, in place while an electrical cable will connect the offshore solar farm to a nearby wind turbine foundation.
The Hollandse Kust Noord offshore wind farm, operated by Crosswind, is located 22km offshore in the Dutch North Sea and is the location where this offshore solar innovation will be operating.
The installation of the anchoring system is a major milestone, as it marks the start of offshore installation works for this groundbreaking project,” says Allard van Hoeken, Founder & CEO of Oceans of Energy.
This is the world’s first offshore solar project located within an offshore wind farm—an achievement that, according to van Hoeken, demonstrates the significant potential of combining both technologies. He explains that this integration could enable a more continuous electricity supply to shore and increase the energy output by up to five times while using the same area of sea.
“I’m incredibly proud of the Oceans of Energy team for preparing and managing this offshore project to the highest safety standards,” he continues. “I’m also very grateful to our client, Crosswind, for their support, and to our subcontractors, Boskalis and Muller Dordrecht, for their outstanding performance.”
“CrossWind is proud to report significant progress in our offshore solar project,” says Jeroen van Loon, Offshore Solar Project Manager, CrossWind.
The dynamic subsea export cable of NKT has surpassed the Factory Acceptance Test and has been delivered to Oceans of Energy for installation at the Hollandse Kust Noord offshore wind farm
“The successful installation of the anchors marks a key milestone in the realization of this pioneering offshore solar concept, surrounded by the wind turbines of Hollandse Kust Noord. The reliability of the anchoring system is critical, not only for the safety and stability of the floating solar park, but also to ensure it operates seamlessly alongside the surrounding wind turbines. We’re very pleased with the high-quality design, the professional execution, and the strong safety culture demonstrated by Oceans of Energy throughout this phase.”, adds.
“This project was an exciting new undertaking in which we combined our offshore capabilities with a long-standing track record in the installation of offshore wind infrastructure. We are excited that we could contribute to the global premiere with the transportation and installation of the permanent mooring system for this offshore solar farm in the North Sea, together with Oceans of Energy. The project execution went smoothly with safety as a top priority, and the excellent performance of the captain and the crew of the Princess was instrumental in the success of this project,” says Steve van Hulle, director Boskalis Marine Services.
The offshore solar project wishes to thank all partners and stakeholders for their support to our team for achieving this. Together, the way for a renewable energy future that enables energy security without competition for land use is being established.
Last week, Oceans of Energy and Crosswind also shared news about the successful factory acceptance test and delivery of the electrical power cable which will transport the produced energy to the nearby foundation pile. This cable, an innovation of its own, was supplied by Swedish NKT.
