The project, led by Dutch company Oceans of Energy, involves deploying a floating solar farm within the area of the existing 759 MW offshore wind farm operated by Crosswind, a joint venture between Shell and Eneco. The integration of both technologies marks the world’s first combined offshore solar and wind project.
The installed anchoring system will stabilize the solar array, which will be connected via an electric power cable to a nearby wind turbine foundation. The cable, supplied by Swedish manufacturer NK, recently passed a successful factory acceptance test and has been delivered to the site.
Allard van Hoeken, Founder and CEO of Oceans of Energy, described the milestone: “This is a huge milestone, as it marks the first offshore installation works for this groundbreaking project.” He highlighted that combining offshore solar with wind could enhance the consistency of electricity supply to land and potentially multiply energy output by up to five times, using the same marine area.
Jeroen van Loon, Offshore Solar Project Manager at Crosswind, emphasized the importance of system integrity: “The reliability of the anchoring system is critical, not only for the safety and stability of the floating solar park, but also to ensure it operates seamlessly alongside the surrounding wind turbines.”
Oceans of Energy previously launched the world’s first offshore solar farm in 2019—a 50 kW modular photovoltaic system also deployed in the Dutch North Sea. The current project continues to build on that experience, advancing efforts to utilize marine environments for renewable energy generation.
According to a 2020 report from energy consultancy DNV GL, the North Sea holds significant potential for floating solar, with estimates suggesting up to 100 MW of capacity by 2030 and 500 MW by 2035.
While detailed specifications of the new solar installation have not been disclosed, the initiative is seen as a key step toward more efficient use of ocean space and greater diversification of offshore renewable energy sources. The collaborative effort between Oceans of Energy and Crosswind represents progress in offshore energy innovation, focusing on reliable, integrated, and space-efficient power generation.
