Spain's first marine solar demonstrator begins testing at Port of Valencia

Spain’s first pre-commercial marine solar demonstrator has entered its testing phase at the Port of Valencia. The 1 MW installation, developed by BlueNewables in collaboration with Naturgy, consists of two floating PV-bos platforms named Paiporta and Catarroja.

The two 500 kW platforms were built at the San Enrique shipyard in Vigo. The first unit was launched there in May before being transported to Valencia. The installation of the second unit completed the deployment. The demonstrator's names honor two Valencian municipalities severely affected by the 2024 DANA floods.

Technology and design features

The PV-bos technology is a modular, scalable floating photovoltaic solution designed for industrial-scale production. It is intended for locations with scarce or expensive land, such as ports, island systems, and areas with grid capacity constraints.

This modular design facilitates adaptation to different sites and project scales. The approach enables solar electricity generation closer to points of consumption. It allows for the use of new surfaces for clean energy without competing for onshore land.

Testing objectives and collaboration

BlueNewables and Naturgy will exchange technical, operational, economic, and strategic information over a two-year period. The testing phase aims to gather data on system performance, operation and maintenance, and integration into the port environment.

The companies will monitor technical incidents, operating costs, and maintenance requirements. The analysis will cover performance data, costs, operational aspects, and lessons learned. The testing infrastructure allows the generated electricity to be fed into the grid and will provide data on integrating floating PV into operational port infrastructure.

The collaboration aims to assess the technology's potential. The testing platform will also be available for future marine renewable energy projects.

Broader initiative and future use

The demonstrator is part of the Renmarinas Valenciaport initiative. This initiative is funded by Spain’s Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE) with European Union NextGenerationEU funds.

The Port Authority of València developed the testing platform to connect, test, and feed electricity from marine renewable energy demonstrators into the power grid. Renmarinas Valenciaport is designed as a demonstration environment for these technologies.

Offshore floating solar photovoltaics is considered one of the most promising emerging solutions for advancing energy system decarbonisation. It opens opportunities to expand renewable energy use in marine environments. This technology can complement offshore wind power and has applications in ports, islands, and other coastal infrastructure.

The installation and testing phase are part of Valenciaport’s strategy for a more sustainable, innovative, and efficient port model. The testing phase will gather data on system performance, operation and maintenance, and integration into the port environment, with analysis covering technical incidents, costs, and lessons learned.