BayWa Renewable Energy is building its largest floating photovoltaic farm, a 27MW project in the Netherlands.
Once complete in about two months’ time, the 27.4MW Bomhofsplas floating solar plant will be the world’s largest renewable energy installation of its kind outside of China.
The project is being built on a sandpit lake in Zwolle and will consist of nearly 73,000 PV modules, 13 floating transformers and 192 inverter boats.
BayWa solar projects global director Benedikt Ortmann said: “We have delivered over 25MW of floating solar, making us Europe’s leading floating solar developer.
“Thanks to the wealth of experience we are now constructing this solar farm at an incredible rate, not seen before.”
The company has already constructed and realised the nearby 14.5MW Sekdoorn solar floater project, the 8.4MW Tynaarlo project as well as the 2.1MW Weperpolder installation.
“In only two weeks we have built 8MW of the project, peaking at constructing 1MW a day. That’s quite a significant increase in speed of delivery,” Ortmann added.
The project is being constructed to new best practice standards, minimising carbon emissions. Electric vehicles, tools and boats used to support construction are being charged by the initial phase of the solar farm as well as an onsite 600kW battery.
In addition to utilising underused space and creating opportunity for owners of artificial lakes, floating solar farms are potentially simpler to install than ground-mounted solar parks, have higher potential yields thanks to the effects of water-cooling and lower operations and maintenance (O&M) costs.
Ortmann added: “Our ability to deliver floating solar farms in such a short space of time is an exciting new opportunity for Europe and its bid to be carbon free by 2050.
“However, when it comes to floating solar you have to use the right long-lasting technology.
“Thanks to our expertise and innovation we have developed a bespoke floating solar system that is creating renewable energy opportunities for under used lakes such as disused quarries, mineral extraction pits and reservoirs.”
In partnership with Zimmermann PV-Stahlbau, BayWa has designed and engineered its own floating system. The patented ‘Zim Float’ is capable of withstanding high wind, waves and snow and creates a safe structure for ongoing operations and maintenance.