Floating Solar: A New Step from the Ocean for Green Energy

DNVN - No longer limited to rooftops or land fields, floating solar technology is opening up a new direction by turning the ocean into a renewable energy source. The XolarSurf project in Norway is considered an important milestone, showing the great potential of "green electricity" from the sea.

As countries rush to find alternatives to fossil fuels, the emergence of offshore floating solar power “technology islands” is creating a breakthrough. Not only does it reduce pressure on agricultural land or urban space, this model also takes advantage of the large sea surface area to produce clean energy.

One of the pioneering projects is the XolarSurf floating solar power system, developed by Moss Maritime (Norway). Considered an engineering marvel, this platform is the size of 14 football fields, able to withstand 8-meter high waves, strong winds and high salinity, while maintaining stable performance. The system is installed with 500 solar panels, generating 35 - 45 kW of power.

XolarSurf has a modular design, allowing the system to be relocated, reused or expanded as needed.

According to Italian energy company Saipem, the big advantage of XolarSurf is its flexibility in deployment in any coastal or offshore area, even in harsh environments. “XolarSurf represents a new field in floating solar, which can be installed anywhere, coastal or offshore, even in harsh environmental conditions. It offers the ideal solution for hybrid projects, such as solar and offshore wind farms, both fixed and floating,” the company said.

Not only is the system resilient, it also stands out for its flexibility thanks to its modular design, which can be expanded, relocated or reused as needed. When combined with offshore wind farms, XolarSurf takes advantage of existing infrastructure such as cables and foundations, helping to save costs. In addition, construction costs are also lower than floating wind turbines and are easy to mass produce.

“Compared to wind turbines, solar power systems are simpler, have lower engineering costs and are easier to scale up, helping to reduce costs and speed up deployment,” emphasized Mr. Alexander Minge Thøgersen, Vice President of Moss Maritime.

Floating solar also opens up energy access opportunities for offshore areas. Aquaculture farms, which lack a reliable power supply, can use energy from XolarSurf at an output of 4-715 MWh per year.

According to HTF Market Intelligence forecast, the global offshore solar power market could grow from $85 billion to more than $268 billion by 2029. This growth not only helps reduce dependence on fossil fuels but also opens up economic benefits for developing countries by taking advantage of existing infrastructure, reducing investment costs.

Floating solar power is therefore not only a technical solution, but also a strategic step in the process towards a green, sustainable and low-emission economy.

Nguyen Bach

Source: https://doanhnghiepvn.vn/cong-nghe/dien-mat-troi-noi-buoc-tien-moi-tu-dai-duong-cho-nang-luong-xanh/20250926113047051