Wave Basin Tests of a Multi-Body Floating PV System Sheltered by a Floating Breakwater
Authors: J. van der Zanden, T. Bunnik, A. Cortés, V. Delhaye, G. Kegelart, T. Pehlke, B. Panjwani
Date: 2024-05-06
This study investigated the hydrodynamic performance of a multi-body floating PV (FPV) system sheltered by a floating breakwater (FBW). Scale 1:10 basin tests assessed hinge loads, relative motions, and wave attenuation. Results show that FBWs reduce high-frequency wave energy, lower hinge loads, and limit buckling in interconnected PV modules, supporting the design of offshore FPV farms with enhanced resilience.
Assessment of Breakwater as a Protection System against Aerodynamic Loads Acting on the Floating PV System
Authors: Balram Panjwani
Date: 2024-09-18
Offshore floating PV systems are subjected to significant aerodynamic forces during extreme winds. CFD simulations for different PV panel configurations produced correlations for lift and drag forces. Breakwaters were shown to significantly reduce these forces, especially at small angles of attack, improving structural resilience of FPV arrays.
UWB-Based Accelerometer Sensor Nodes for Low-Power Applications in Offshore Platforms
Authors: M. Losada, A. Olaizola, A. Irizar, I. Fernández, A. Carrasco, J. van der Zanden, A. Cortés
Date: 2024-11-14
This paper proposes an Ultra Wideband (UWB)-based accelerometer sensor node for low-power, wireless structural monitoring of offshore platforms. Laboratory and MARIN wave basin tests validate its performance, confirming robustness, efficiency, and suitability for offshore FPV applications.
UWB-Based Accelerometer Sensor Nodes for Low-Power Applications in Offshore Platforms
Authors: M. Losada, A. Olaizola, A. Irizar, I. Fernández, A. Carrasco, J. van der Zanden, A. Cortés
Date: 2024-11-14
This paper proposes an Ultra Wideband (UWB)-based accelerometer sensor node for low-power, wireless structural monitoring of offshore platforms. Laboratory and MARIN wave basin tests validate its performance, confirming robustness, efficiency, and suitability for offshore FPV applications.
Hydrodynamic analysis of a 2MW offshore floating solar farm with breakwater protection
Authors: T.H.J. Bunnik, J. van der Zanden, N. Baderiya
Date: 2025-09-22
Within the EU project SUREWAVE a new concept for the upscaling of Floating PhotoVoltaics (FPV) to offshore environments is developed. The concept integrates an FPV design with a floating breakwater ring to provide shelter against waves. Model tests and numerical simulations validate the design and scale-up to a 2MW system (3660 panels, 32 breakwaters). Results show reduced hinge loads from short waves, but increased drift forces requiring stronger mooring systems.