AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – A Dutch startup that has tested solar panel arrays on the open ocean says it has won its first commercial contract to install a small amount of capacity at a wind farm in the North Sea.
Until now, the company Oceans of Energy has relied on subsidies.
The terms of its contract with customer Crosswinds, a joint venture between Shell and Eneco, to build the 0.5 megawatt (MW) floating array between the wind turbines at the 750MW Hollands Kust Noord farm were not disclosed.
In contrast to a slightly larger array the company has tested since 2019, the new system capable of providing energy for around 500 households will be physically connected to the Dutch electric grid from 2025.
The contract “is big news for us as until now it has been all subsidies,” spokeswoman Ariane van Hoeken said, referring to the company’s roughly 20 million euros ($22 million) in funding to date.
Oceans of Energy has said it believes solar farms will eventually become commonplace at offshore wind farms.
The advantages include shared grid infrastructure and that solar and wind energy work best at different times of day.
($1 = 0.9074 euros)
(Reporting by Toby Sterling; Editing by Barbara Lewis)
