Opening pilot installation September 20, 2019 in Weurt

After two years of hard work, the pilot installation INNOZOWA or INNOVative ZOn-Pv on WATER is completed. Solar energy is generated from water in a revolutionary way on a lake in Weurt.

Water Board Rivierenland wants to innovate to connect energy transition and water management goals. Solar energy is an important renewable energy source that can replace fossil fuels. The development of solar panels is therefore not standing still. However, the installation of solar panels on land is reaching a limit in the Netherlands. In a water-rich Netherlands, based on this demand for space, the use of surface water for the installation of solar panels is examined.

This is the reason why the Rivierenland Water Board has set up this project. Together with three other parties -each with their own specialism-, work has been done on the energy transition and water board energy neutral 2030. The result of this collaboration is a new model for solar PV on water.

In addition to achieving energy objectives, the innovation also offers opportunities for water management. For example, the floating solar panels can offer added value for ecology.

With the results of this pilot, the parties expect to have sufficient data and experience to further scale up the project. Renewable Energy project supported by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).

Project leader Rivierenland Water Board, Bjorn Prudon:

‘Solar PV on water has many advantages, of course, but it can also have a negative effect on water management and objectives. For example, solar panels on water lead to less sunlight in the water and the panels hinder water maintenance. We have developed INNOZOWA to give sun on water a chance. A flexible floating PV system in which we use the advantages of building on water, without this being at the expense of the goals of the water board. With INNOZOWA we give direction to the development of sun on water so that it contributes to both the tasks of the energy transition and those of the water board.’

Opening

The pilot installation is located at the water storage facility in Weurt (Nijmegen region) and will be opened on Friday 20 September at 2 p.m. at the waste water treatment plant in Weurt (Jonkerstraat 42a).

INNOZOWA is a consortium consisting of Waterschap Rivierenland (lead party), Blue21 BV (a ‘social enterprise’ specialized in floating construction), Hakkers BV (experienced hydraulic contractor) and TU Delft – Photovoltaic Materials and Devices (PVMD) research group, DC-to -AC side energy yield modelling.

INNOZOWA is a project supported by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) through a subsidy for Renewable Energy.