Build scAled Modular Bamboo-inspired Offshore sOlar systems (BAMBOO)

BAMBOO tackles the barriers for the implementation of a sustainable, large-scale offshore Floating PhotoVoltaics (FPV) system of 1 km2/150 MW, that will act as a blueprint for rollout of offshore FPV projects in Europe, and that is to be implemented in conjunction with the offshore wind leading EU utility-partner.

Offshore FPV extends PV potential at enormous scales to make Europe meet its climate targets for 2030 and 2050.

It makes use of space at sea, large-scale economies of scale, complementary energy yield with wind farms, and it isa solution with potentially low impact on aquatic eco-systems.

However, developing offshore FPV systems is technically challenging due to the harsh conditions of waves &corrosive environments, and economically not feasible yet.Project BAMBOO addresses these challenges through four breakthrough innovations, including:1.Large floating surface understanding through world’s first basin scale tests and hydrodynamic modelling of 1 km2 blanket-type arrays,2.A 5 MW demonstrator in the North Sea with hybrid design encompassing the benefits of larger array protection in floaters,3.The offshore world’s first dynamic floating substation for offshore FPV, and4.The development of 6 world’s first standard offshore testing methodologies for key FPV-componentsThrough assessments of energy yield, circularity of materials, environmental impact, LCA and end-of-life strategies, BAMBOO paves the way to scale offshore FPV systems to commercial and sustainable applications, significantly reducing emissions, while having a net-positive impact on the marine ecosystem.The consortium covers what is necessary to make BAMBOO a success: companies including Oceans of Energy will provide the technologies, RTOs including MARIN and Fraunhofer the assessment of the system and its environmental impact, ABS expertise on certifications and the industry-leading utility the capacity to implement the large-scale integration of offshore wind with FPV farms.