Port of Valencia activates first 500 kW floating offshore PV unit

Port of Valencia activates first 500 kW floating offshore PV unit The Port of Valencia has activated Spain’s first offshore solar platform, a pilot project developed by Tenerife-based engineering consultancy BlueNewables with support from Spanish energy company Naturgy. The platform, built at the San Enrique shipyard in Vigo, Galicia – a facility owned by the Marina Meridional Group – has been named Paiporta in recognition of the Valencian municipality affected by the 2024 Dana storm. It will be deployed outside the port’s southern breakwater, where the project’s testing phase will take place. Technical data and operation The 500 kW catamaran-style unit is part of a project launched in March 2025 that includes two PhotoVoltaic-Bluenewables Offshore Solutions (PV bos) floating platforms with a combined capacity of 1 MW. The installation is expected to generate around 1,500 MWh of electricity per year. The project aims to advance the development of floating PV platforms manufactured through industrialized, modular processes designed for future large-scale production. Each platform features a 64 m x 41 m deck and accommodates 600 solar modules. According to BlueNewables, the patented design enables rapid manufacturing, simplified maintenance, and optimized electricity generation. The PV-bos technology has been developed specifically for offshore environments. Each platform consists of two main components: a floating structure that provides buoyancy and a deck supporting the solar modules. The unit also includes a technical area containing inverters and transformers to monitor prototype performance and enable electricity injection into the Port of Valencia’s grid. The structure has been designed to meet safety requirements for offshore operations and provide safe working conditions for personnel. BlueNewables said it is “developing its patented solution with a strong marine engineering component,” making the technology suitable for construction and logistics capabilities already available at shipyards and ports. Manufacturing and shipyard collaboration BlueNewables plans to expand the technology globally in the coming years through collaboration with steel structure manufacturers, ports, industrial partners, and shipyards such as San Enrique. The company said the initiative could provide a diversification opportunity for the Galician shipbuilding industry. Asturian PV manufacturer Alusin Solar also contributed to the design and development of the structures. The San Enrique shipyard has obtained certification as a manufacturer of offshore structures and will participate in the BalWin 1 project, developed by Dragados in partnership with Siemens. The project involves a 2 GW HVDC converter station platform designed to collect offshore wind power, aggregate electricity, and transmit it to the mainland. The floating PV project is coordinated by the Port Authority of Valencia and supported by a grant from Spain’s Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE) through the Renmarinas Valenciaport program, which is funded by the European Union’s NextGenerationEU initiative. This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: [email protected]. Please login to comment