Belgium releases 2 million euros for a floating solar panel project at sea – Economic Policy
The Council of Ministers has approved a budget of 2 million euros for the realization of a project of floating solar panels at sea, he announced on Friday. The ‘Proof of Concept’, intended to verify the resolution of the project, will be launched this autumn in the Belgian part of the North Sea. Offshore solar panels have the potential to generate an additional 1GW in the first offshore area.
Belgium thus intends to be the first country in the world to install floating solar panels at sea between wind turbines.
In detail, 500,000 euros will be allocated to Belspo to subsidize the installation of the ‘Proof of Concept’ and its follow-up. The rest, i.e. 1.5 million euros, will go to the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (IRSNB) with a view to carrying out a life-size prototype of floating solar panels and to carry out the necessary studies. This project also requires the private sector to provide the necessary funds, said the authorities who wish, in the long term, “to make optimal use of the space between the wind turbines by installing floating solar panels there”.
If the pilot project proves successful, the budget will be increased to 10.5 million euros next yearvia a public procurement, to support the accelerated development of this innovative technology which, according to the government, “could become cost-competitive in the European energy landscape”.
“The North Sea will become the engine of our energy independence. With this government, we are investing in solar energy at sea. These floating solar panels have the potential to generate an additional 1 GW of green energy in the first offshore area. Thanks to this demonstration project, our companies could to a large extent once again play a pioneering role in the global development of this technology and contribute to economic growth, a source of new job creation”, commented Vincent Van Quickenborne, Vice- Prime Minister and Minister for the North Sea.
“By investing massively in research and innovation, the national recovery plan will ensure the development of businesses, jobs and technologies that will be at the heart of a sustainable and digital economy within 5 to 20 years. More than half of the investments foreseen by the plan to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. This project is also a good example of the support function that scientific research plays on federal policy.Our federal scientific institutions are a crucial player in the development of the blue economy in the Belgian North Sea”, added Thomas Dermine, Secretary of State for Science Policy.
Belgium thus intends to be the first country in the world to install floating solar panels at sea between wind turbines. In detail, 500,000 euros will be allocated to Belspo to subsidize the installation of the ‘Proof of Concept’ and its follow-up. The rest, ie 1.5 million euros, will go to the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS) with a view to producing a life-size prototype of floating solar panels and carrying out the necessary studies. This project also requires the private sector to provide the necessary funds, said the authorities who wish, in the long term, “to make optimal use of the space between the wind turbines by installing floating solar panels there”. If the pilot project proves successful, the budget will be increased to 10.5 million euros next year, via a public tender, in order to support the accelerated development of this innovative technology which, according to the government, “could become cost-competitive in the European energy landscape.” “The North Sea will become the driving force for our energy independence. With this government, we are investing in solar energy at sea. These floating solar panels have the potential to produce an additional 1 GW of green energy in the first offshore area. Thanks to this demonstration project, our companies could to a large extent once again play a pioneering role in the global development of this technology and contribute to economic growth, a source of new job creation,” commented Vincent Van Quickenborne, Vice- Prime Minister and Minister for the North Sea. “By investing massively in research and innovation, the national recovery plan will ensure the development of businesses, jobs and technologies that will be at the heart of a sustainable and digital economy within 5 to 20 years. More than half of the investments foreseen by the plan to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. This project is also a good example of the support function that scientific research plays on federal policy.Our federal scientific institutions are a crucial player in the development of the blue economy in the Belgian North Sea”, added Thomas Dermine, Secretary of State for Science Policy.