BRIZO - Floating PV Technology for Nearshore and Offshore Solar Energy

Floating Solar or Floating PV has great potential to be an important part of the energy mix of the green transition.

In the transition from a fossil-fuel-based society to a zero-emission society, there is a tremendous need for new renewable energy solutions, with solar energy emerging as one of the cheapest and most accessible technologies.

Recognizing the scarcity of land, especially in areas close to cities where most people reside, the concept of floating solar farms at sea; rivers, lakes, and near-and offshore environments becomes compelling. By harnessing solar power offshore, we can generate significant renewable energy close to populated areas. This innovative approach not only maximizes efficiency but also avoids occupying valuable land that could be utilized for essential purposes such as food production and recreation.

The global floating solar market has witnessed significant growth, driven by the increasing demand for renewable energy and the challenges posed by land scarcity.

With 71 percent of the Earth's surface covered by various water bodies such as rivers, lakes, and near-and offshore environments, floating solar solutions have emerged as a viable and sustainable option to harness solar power.

Deploying floating solar solutions requires careful consideration of the unique characteristics of each location. A suitable technology in one area may not be appropriate in another. Therefore, there is a demand for diverse floating PV technologies tailored to specific water environments.

Floating solar developers draw significant attention to locations exhibiting high production potential and facing land scarcity challenges. 

Today, Floating PV (FPV) is predominantly installed on lakes and hydropower dams. However, the development of large-scale projects faces space constraints and oftentimes distance to the grid. Offshore installations offer space but come with extreme environmental loads and high costs.

We believe the most viable market for large-scale FPV is in nearshore seawater, where conditions are more benign, and developers can access vast areas and engage with one single stakeholder for site access, streamlining negotiations and reducing land-use complexities. Increased flexibility with sites in turn offers shorter distance to grid or offtakers, reducing power export costs. In sum, nearshore projects enable faster project development and more opportunities.

Brizo addresses these challenges by providing a low-cost, robust solution, capable of scaling FPV projects nearshore while withstanding environmental loads, making it an ideal choice for large-scale projects

Floating PV presents various benefits, displayed in various forms. The primary importance lies in its environmental efficiency and friendliness, serving as a highly effective means of energy generation.

The reason why near- and offshore floating PV solutions have significantly enhanced energy production is, that PV technologies benefit from the cooling effect induced by water. This means that floating PV not only unlocks the potential to repurpose existing water bodies for renewable energy but also demonstrates heightened efficiency.

Floating solar holds immense promise for the future of renewable energy, offering not only increased resilience to high wind and wave loads but also delivering significant environmental benefits. However, achieving the optimal balance of proximity to water for efficient cooling while mitigating the impact of powerful waves poses a challenge in deploying floating solar technologies.