Tecnalia leads Natursea-PV project for marine floating solar platforms

The European Natursea-PV project, led by the research center Tecnalia, has entered its final phase, focusing on the development of substructures for floating marine photovoltaic platforms. Funded under the Horizon Europe program, the initiative aims to enhance the durability, reliability, and maintenance of solar installations in marine environments.

To address challenges such as wave action, corrosion, and biofouling, the project has developed a bio-inspired floating substructure modeled after the geometry of water lilies. This design utilizes a configuration of radial and tangential beams to create a lightweight, flexible solution capable of adapting to marine loads.

Key technical advancements include the creation of ultra-high performance, low-carbon concrete (eco-UHPC) designed for aggressive environments, as well as bio-based anti-corrosive and anti-fouling coatings for metal, glass, and concrete surfaces. These innovations are intended to reduce degradation rates, lower investment risks, and decrease the levelized cost of electricity for offshore solar solutions.