There’s something special about small islands and remote resorts. They often sit in the world’s most breathtaking surroundings—turquoise lagoons, quiet reefs, shallow blue bays and sunkissed beaches. But behind the beauty lies a difficult reality: most of these places depend almost entirely on diesel to keep the lights on. The fuel is  noisy, polluting, and expensive as it has to be shipped in from far away. When the global diesel market shifts, the operating costs shift with it.

Since land is usually scarce, decarbonizing with traditional solar arrays is rarely an option. As the world races to accelerate renewable energy deployment, floating solar power has emerged as one of the most promising frontiers. With land availability tightening and coastal populations expanding, the ability to deploy efficient solar power systems on water offers a compelling new pathway for clean energy generation.

At Ocean Sun, we’ve spent years developing a floating solar technology that can change this equation once and for all. Today, after our work at Soneva Secret Resort (SSR) in the Maldives, in collaboration with Canopy Power as integrator, Huawei for BESS with PV modules from GCL SI, we can say with confidence that floating solar powering remote islands is no longer a promising idea, but a proven reality. Among the most challenging, and most rewarding, environments for floating solar are the world’s lagoons. These natural, shallow-water basins offer stable conditions and proximity to population centers, making them ideal for solar power installations, provided the technology can withstand their unique environmental pressures.

This blog post is about what that means for resorts, for island nations, and for a rapidly changing energy landscape.

Remote resorts and island often struggle with the same constraints: very limited land, fragile ecosystems, and strict building footprints. Compared to open ocean conditions, which are often severe, lagoons offer a more controlled and consistent setting for floating solar development. The calm, shallow waters make engineering and standardization far more feasible, enabling developers to optimize system design and reduce installation complexity.

However, lagoon installations come with their own challenges, including persistent currents, short-period waves, high winds, and tidal variations that can bring floating systems close to the seabed. Designing solutions robust enough to navigate these conditions is vital to long-term system performance, and this is where Ocean Sun’s technology excels.

Ocean Sun’s floating solar technology flips this challenge on its head. Instead of fighting for space, we use what is already there. Calm lagoon waters that sit unused most of the day.

Because our solution has the lowest material use of any floating solar system, the entire logistical chain becomes more efficient. Membranes for several large floaters fit into a single container, installation can be done with simple tools and small boats, and the onsite footprint stays minimal. For resorts that work hard to protect their surroundings and maintain the luxury guest experience, this low-impact profile is not just helpful; it is essential.

The SSR project did more than deliver clean energy. It showed that a high-end luxury island resort can drastically reduce its diesel consumption by up to 90%, without compromising aesthetics or guest comfort and save up to 1 million liters of diesel annually, reducing over 2,000 tons of CO₂ emissions each year. This is a remarkable shift. A resort that once relied on diesel throughout the day can now run almost entirely on solar, and when the sun sets in the far west, the BESS quietly gets to work.

The economic implications are immediate and powerful. Diesel on remote islands is extremely costly, and prices fluctuate constantly with the global market. When a resort cuts diesel use by such a large margin, it gains predictable energy costs, reduced operational expenses, and a more stable financial outlook. In an industry where margins are tight, this kind of transformation is rare.

But the change goes deeper than numbers on a spreadsheet. With quieter operations, cleaner air, and lower emissions, the resort becomes a more sustainable version of itself. ESG profiles improve, and the resort positions itself as a leader in responsible tourism.

In short, SSR didn’t just work — it worked beautifully.

Floating solar is not new, but Ocean Sun’s approach is fundamentally different. Our circular floating membrane platforms with the direct water cooling creates a system that works perfectly in lagoons and warm climates. Because the PV modules sit directly on the membrane at the water’s surface, heat dissipates quickly. Every degree of cooling matters, especially in tropical regions where temperatures regularly push solar efficiency down. Since module efficiency drops by 0.4% per °C increase, this cooling effect can boost overall energy yield by up to 10%, a significant gain in high-temperature environments and an advantage that compounds every day.

HDPE piping and circular geometry distribute mechanical stresses efficiently, avoiding fatigue and eliminating weak connection points. The membrane itself acts to smooth wave impact, while extremely low current drag improves stability in strong flows. The system has been validated across laboratory and real-world tests, including receiving the world’s first Type Certificate by Bureau Veritas and a Statement of Conformance from DNV.

Equally important is how lightweight the system is. Lower material use means less transport, reduced emissions, and easier site logistics. Membranes for multiple large floaters fit into a single 40-foot container, reducing transport costs and enabling large projects to be mobilized rapidly. In remote locations, that difference is enormous. Instead of heavy equipment and long preparatory work, installations can be done with local teams, simple barges, and a well-planned workflow.

The lessons learned from SSR extend naturally to island societies as a whole. Many islands spend a large share of their budgets importing diesel. Floating solar offers a way out of that dependency. By using lagoon areas that are naturally calm and close to existing infrastructure, governments can rapidly deploy clean power without competing for scarce land or harming sensitive ecosystems.

Floating solar doesn’t just provide clean energy. It protects landscapes, supports marine ecosystems, and preserves the peace and quiet that define island life. At Ocean Sun, we believe that energy production should not feel intrusive. Seeing the SSR system operate day after day, blending into the lagoon and quietly supplying most of the resort’s electricity, reinforces that belief.

Ocean Sun works as a dedicated technology provider, focusing on its patented membrane-based floating solar solution while empowering developers and EPC partners to deliver projects at scale. At SSR, Singapore-based Canopy Power served as the developer and integrator, while Huawei provided advanced battery and power electronics systems. We provide tailored system design and engineering, a complete bill of materials, clear construction method statements, and supplier recommendations, then back this up with site support, training, and supervision so local teams can install and operate the system confidently. Together with partners, we also offer optional monitoring and O&M platforms that give full plant visibility and enable condition-based maintenance, helping ensure strong performance, low downtime, and reliable clean energy production over the long term.

Ocean Sun’s innovation is protected by three patent families covering all major global markets. Independent evaluation confirms that the technology delivers strong protections for floating solar systems using PV modules on floating flexible membranes, with no conflicting third-party rights that would hinder commercialization. This robust IP foundation ensures partners can adopt the solution with confidence.

Floating solar represents one of the most transformative opportunities in renewable energy today. With its advanced, seaworthy, and highly efficient floating solar technology, Ocean Sun is unlocking the potential of the world’s lagoons—bringing scalable, cost-effective clean power to regions where land is scarce, energy demand is rising, and climate resilience is more important than ever.

If you want to know more about our technology, feel free to contact us or book a meeting. We are looking forward to hearing from you!

Written by;

Carl Petter Lehne
Chief Operating Officer
cpl@oceansun.no

Are Gløersen
Director Southeast Asia
ag@oceansun.no