The company Landatu Solar has set up a modular floating solar energy solution for marine environments in the waters of the Port of Bilbao, with a view to assessing its performance in a real environment and, in this first phase, susbsequently drawing technical conclusions on the development of the system and its potential for use in offshore environments. The initiative will provide valuable insights into how factors such as waves, wind, corrosion and the complexity of the anchoring system affect the structural performance of the technology, enabling future scale-up phases to be planned.

The 12×12 metre pilot, moored in the waters of the Santurtzi dock, consists of a modular stretched membrane and mesh structure with an outer frame that provides buoyancy and overall rigidity, enabling it to better adapt to the dynamic loads of the waves and facilitating the use of simple, transportable components, with the potential to reduce installation times and logistical complexity.

This initiative is part of the Seamod project to develop an innovative modular floating solution for PV solar energy in the marine environment. The proposed solution is designed as a system that can be scaled up and integrated with other marine renewable energy sources, such as offshore wind, to facilitate the energy transition by tapping into the potential of the sea and relieving pressure on agricultural and developable land.

Seamod has been developed by Landatu Solar with the support of the Basque Government Hazitek 2024 programme, and co-financed by the Basque Government Department of Economic Development, Sustainability and the Environment and the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
Source: Port of Bilbao