By harnessing clean electricity from the sun without occupying valuable land, offshore solar contributes to global decarbonization efforts and helps mitigate climate change. This innovative approach not only reduces the need for fossil fuels but also preserves terrestrial ecosystems, making it an essential component of the future energy system. As first movers, we build nature-inclusive farms and test them in the field with an open research program.
Floating reef effect — Floaters add hard substrate in the sea for species to settle on. ‘Upside-down’ reefs form. The marine life that grows, forms the base of complex food webs, while the shelter provided by the platforms attracts larger species like crabs and fish.
Seafloor protection — No-trawl footprint under farms allows benthic recovery. For the North Sea this means that naturally occurring oyster reefs and mussel beds have a chance to make their comeback. Besides, we see that blue mussels (and other species) are growing and attaching to the underside of our floaters. During storms and through natural processes, some mussels detach and settle on the seafloor, where they begin to form complex, hard structures. Over time, this process aids in the natural re-establishment of mussel beds.
Blue carbon pathway — Throughout the expected 25-year lifespan of our solar farms, thousands of kilograms of mussels will grow, contributing to ecosystem restoration and capturing CO2 in their shells. In this way, our systems play a direct role in fostering a blue carbon sink and promoting marine biodiversity.
Responsibly developing offshore solar relies on growing our understanding of the potential impacts of offshore solar development on marine resources, and the effectiveness of mitigation technologies. To achieve this, we incorporate environmental monitoring into every project we undertake. Our marine ecologists and field scientists diligently collect data from our pilot projects, including water quality parameters like light, temperature, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll and turbidity levels. Additionally, we utilize both above-water and underwater camera images to gather essential information about how our systems function and interact with fish, birds and marine mammals. During the more than four years of field observations around our pilots, we have not seen any negative impact of our systems with sea life.
The field data we collect is crucial for validating our models that predict the effects of large-scale offshore solar installations on various ecosystems. For example, we collaborated with research partners to develop an initial water column model simulating a temperate coastal sea environment, such as the North Sea, to assess the shadow effect on phytoplankton. Our results indicate that there is no significant impact on primary production, even when considering unrealistically large floating farms extending tens of kilometers. This is primarily because the tides continuously move seawater beneath the floating installations, preventing phytoplankton particles from remaining in the shadow zone for extended periods. That’s on top of the fact that floating solar farms take up little sea space compared to the overall size and water volume of sea basins.
We aim to publish our findings in open access peer-reviewed scientific articles. Please find our papers below:
We believe in the power of collaboration to drive positive change. Meet our esteemed partners who share our vision for a sustainable future. Together, we aim to forge new paths in renewable energy, ensuring that every innovation aligns with our commitment to environmental responsibility.
We are always on the lookout for new projects that allow us to partner with like-minded organizations and individuals. Whether you’re an established player or a visionary startup, we welcome opportunities to join forces and propel our ocean research forward.
