The BOOST project consortium announces the successful completion of the BOOST floating solar demonstrator (Bringing Offshore Ocean Sun to the global market). This pioneering initiative, partially funded by the European Union, has achieved a significant milestone by deploying Europe’s largest ocean-based floating solar energy system. The system is located close to the port of Tazacorte at La Palma (La Isla Bonita) and aligns with the EU’s commitment to remove barriers in implementing renewable energies, in accordance with its Solar Energy Strategy and the incentives for self-consumption installations.
The BOOST consortium, coordinated by Ocean Sun and comprising key partners such as Innosea, PLOCAN, The Institute of Technology of the Canary Islands (ITC) and Fred Olsen Renewables, celebrates the successful development and implementation of the demonstrator with an official opening. Guests from both local authorities at La Palma as well as Nieves Lady Barreto, Vice President of the Government of the Canary Islands will attend the opening.
Successful development and implementation.
The demonstrator utilizes Ocean Sun’s patented floating solar photovoltaics (FPV) technology and marks the final milestone in a comprehensive three-year-long R&D project focused on demonstrating and validating a solution for seawater floating PV. During the project Ocean Sun’s technology has been analysed by independent engineering firm Innosea and tested at the SINTEF Ocean basin laboratory. Furthermore, the project has obtained a site-specific design verification from DNV according to the Ocean Sun’s design premise, confirming the designs suitability for deployment.
Installation in Tazacorte and institutional collaboration
The final installation carried out in the port of Tazacorte, was made possible through collaboration with ACUIPALMA and the support of institutions such as Puertos Canarios and the Cabildo de La Palma. BOOST represents a pivotal step in La Palma’s transition to sustainable energy, promoting innovation and sustainability. Additionally, it contributes to positioning the port of Tazacorte as a center of innovation in port decarbonization in the Canary Islands.
“This latest system deployed in the southernmost part of Europe serves as a powerful demonstrator for the exploitation of the limitless solar resources at sea. Successful operation of the special membrane solution in these waters will pave the way for abundant supply of affordable renewable energy.” Says Dr. Børge Bjørneklett, CEO and Founder of Ocean Sun
The CEO of PLOCAN, Dr. José Joaquín Hernández Brito, said: “The BOOST project in the Canary Islands symbolizes a significant advance towards the sustainable use of our marine and maritime resources, demonstrating how innovation and collaboration can offer effective solutions to global challenges such as climate change and energy transformation”.