Fred Olsen 1848 has secured third-party verification from classification society DNV for its BRIZO floating solar technology, marking a step towards commercial deployment of the system in more exposed marine and inland water environments.
The technical review, carried out under DNV’s recommended practice for floating solar photovoltaic systems, concluded that the technology’s design methodologies, structural behaviour, hydrodynamic modelling and testing procedures meet recognised industry standards.
The verification is expected to strengthen the bankability of the technology by providing independent validation for developers, investors and lenders considering commercial projects.
Unlike conventional floating solar systems, which are typically deployed on sheltered lakes and reservoirs, BRIZO has been designed to operate in harsher conditions using a flexible rope-mesh and tensioning system capable of withstanding waves of up to 3.5 m significant wave height.
That opens the door to deployment in nearshore locations and wave-prone inland waters, potentially expanding the market for floating solar at a time when land constraints and grid access are becoming growing challenges for renewable energy projects.
Geir Grimsrud, chief technical officer at Fred Olsen 1848, said the review marked an important milestone in the development of the technology.
“This statement of conformity represents a significant milestone for BRIZO. It provides confirmation of the strength of our technical approach and demonstrates that the technology is able to operate in more demanding conditions,” he said.
Prajeev Rasiah, senior vice president and regional director, northern Europe, energy systems at DNV, said floating solar would need to move beyond sheltered waters to unlock meaningful growth.
“Technologies capable of operating in more exposed environments could significantly expand the addressable market for floating solar, particularly in regions facing land constraints, competing land use, or growing pressure on grid infrastructure,” he said.
While floating solar remains a relatively small segment of the global solar market, interest is growing as developers seek new locations for renewable energy generation. Solutions capable of operating in higher sea states could open opportunities in coastal waters and larger inland water bodies that have previously been unsuitable for conventional floating solar installations.
For Norway-based Fred Olsen 1848, the DNV verification represents another step in commercialising technology aimed at broadening the application of floating solar beyond protected waters.
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