Oslo, Norway, 19 March, 2024: DNV, the independent energy expert and assurance provider, has collaborated with Moss Maritime, a leading offshore design and engineering services provider, to accelerate the deployment of floating solar technology in harsh environmental conditions
DNV has handed over a Statement of Conformity to Moss Maritime for their design brief outlining the design methodology for their concept called XolarSurf. This marks a significant milestone in the development of their technology. The recognition helps pave the way for further developments for floating solar in exposed waters and the opportunity of providing clean energy close to shore without the use of area on land.
The Statement of Conformity verifies that the design methodology complies with DNV general principles and requirements following the standard DNV-ST-0119. DNV has conducted independent investigations to identify and reduce errors, deficiencies, and weaknesses in methods and analytical tools. Wind, waves, and currents affect structures in the sea, and DNV’s input ensures that this is taken care of in the further development of the concept.
The independent confirmation of their design brief helps Moss Maritime reduce risks as well as attract the investments needed for further advancing their floating solar technology.
“We aim to have a prototype in the water by June. DNV’s Statement of Conformity is a recognition and a stamp of quality that gives us a good basis for further work,” says Alexander Minge Thøgersen, Vice President of Engineering at Moss Maritime. “Compared to floating wind turbines, floating solar power technology is simpler, engineering costs are lower, and structures are easier to build. Floating solar power is also well suited for mass production, which will have a positive impact on price and deployment”, says Minge Thøgersen.
DNV’s 2023 Energy Transition Outlook highlighted the staggering growth that solar photovoltaics (PV) has seen in recent years, moving from 1 GW installed annually in 2004 to 250 GW installed in 2022 alone. With land-based growth on this scale, the large amount of space required for development presents a challenge that may be addressed by floating solar.
Floating solar technology must overcome rough sea conditions that land-based solar farms are exempt from, the potential benefits, such as reduced land footprint and co-location with existing wind farms, present compelling opportunities. In fact, by combining floating solar with offshore wind farms and thereby leveraging the same energy infrastructure and export cables, the resulting energy production capacity per used area could be drastically improved. This greatly underscores the viability of floating solar PV as a key component of the renewable energy landscape and its relevance in the energy transition.
“Solar power development is an important element in the energy transition. Investing in the development of floating solar power is therefore highly interesting, especially in connection with co-locating with offshore wind farms. This provides both good area utilization and the possibility of cost reduction through the sharing of infrastructure. In practice, Moss Maritime has received an instruction manual, so that they can design and develop floating solar power that can withstand rough sea conditions”, says Hans Kristian Danielsen, senior vice president of global business development and sales enablement, Energy Systems at DNV, based in Hovik, Norway.
“DNV is proud to hand over this Statement of Conformity to Moss Maritime and support the advancement of floating solar in exposed waters. By verifying their design brief, DNV helps enable Moss Maritime in the deployment of their technology in a safe and reliable manner,” commented Prajeev Rasiah, executive vice president and regional director for Northern Europe, Energy Systems at DNV. “DNV is committed to being a trusted voice in the energy transition by using our expertise to contribute to the global efforts of tackling climate change. We look forward to following Moss Maritime’s work with renewable energy sources and to seeing the deployment of their floating solar concept.”
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Penda Sall
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DNV
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About DNV
DNV is the independent expert in risk management and assurance, operating in more than 100 countries. Through its broad experience and deep expertise DNV advances safety and sustainable performance, sets industry benchmarks, and inspires and invents solutions.
Whether assessing a new ship design, optimizing the performance of a wind farm, analyzing sensor data from a gas pipeline or certifying a food company’s supply chain, DNV enables its customers and their stakeholders to make critical decisions with confidence.
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In the energy industry
DNV provides assurance to the entire energy value chain through its advisory, monitoring, verification, and certification services. As the world’s leading resource of independent energy experts and technical advisors, the assurance provider helps industries and governments to navigate the many complex, interrelated transitions taking place globally and regionally, in the energy industry. DNV is committed to realizing the goals of the Paris Agreement, and supports customers to transition faster to a deeply decarbonized energy system.
Learn more at www.dnv.com
About Moss Maritime:
Moss Maritime provides leading technology and expertise within design and engineering services to the offshore energy sector as well as other ocean-based sectors. Some of the largest and most advanced semi-submersible drilling platforms are designed & engineered by Moss Maritime, and the company has a special position in the LNG industry, being the designer of the Moss LNG carrier.
Moss Maritime continues to specialize in frontier and technology advanced projects. They provide a wide variety of design solutions for innovative floater designs for the energy industry in general, with focus on energy carriers such as LNG and hydrogen, as well as for the renewable energy sector. They also engage in non-energy markets with the need of floater competence such as aquaculture, and large coastal structures and infrastructure.
