Making waves with floating offshore solar panels
Spotted: According to the International Energy Agency’s Renewables 2023 report, last year saw a ‘step change’ in renewable capacity additions, driven in large part by solar power, particularly in China. And, in the year ahead, it is expected that the world will pass an important milestone with the combination of solar and wind forecast to generate more renewable electricity than hydropower for the first time.
Despite this heartening progress, there is still scope for innovation in renewable generation, and not every problem is solved. For example, offshore wind had a difficult year in 2023, and Netherlands-based energy company SolarDuck believes that another offshore technology will become an important part of the energy mix.
The startup believes that offshore solar power will be a key component in the push to meet net-zero emissions goals. The company’s founders all have experience in the energy and maritime sectors, expertise that lent itself to the creation of low-maintenance, offshore, floating solar panels designed specifically to withstand high-velocity winds and waves for up to 30 years.
The patented design includes built-in safety aspects, along with improved means of access for maintenance teams. The solar panels are arranged in a triangle shape with a 10-degree tilt to help maximise self-cleaning capabilities and are placed on a floating foundation several feet above the water. Being slightly raised helps minimise corrosion and marine growth, and each structure is designed to be easily connected to another for quick scalability of energy supply.
Sea water provides an important cooling factor that helps the panels maintain higher levels of conversion efficiency. SolarDuck plans to generate at least one gigawatt of energy from its solution annually by 2030.
From a solar-powered cooker to new means of rejuvenating aging PV panels, solar power is such as important source of renewable energy that Springwise’s library contains a range of examples of innovations working to reduce the world’s dependence on oil and gas.
Written By: Keely Khoury
The city of Palma has a new landmark, and it isn’t what the general population might expect from the sun-soaked Mallorcan capital, known for the splendor and intricacy of its massive cathedral and the magnificent concentration of modernismo-style buildings (the Catalan equivalent of Art Nouveau). What sets this new residential complex apart isn’t simply its strikingly delicate façade and palpable material approach, but also the design’s dedication sustainability, energy-efficiency and urban integration.
Like a beacon for the future of design, this ten-unit residential building is proudly perched on a highly visible corner in London. The design, which incorporates a variety of different apartment layouts for families of varying sizes, emerged through a rigorous analysis of privacy, daylight and neighboring building forms. The resulting architectural language complements the surrounding context and history. For example, red masonry shingles create an urban composition which is both reminiscent of the surroundings yet distinct.
Vital Brookdale stands as a prime example of affordable Passive House and community-oriented housing, providing 160 affordable housing units and 25,000 square feet (2,320 square meters) of health-centric community space in Brooklyn’s Brownsville neighborhood. This initiative incorporates a 100kW solar photovoltaic system mounted on the roof, a green roof, advanced mechanical systems, top-tier insulation and windows, LED lighting, water fixtures with low flow, and various other energy-efficient features. Meanwhile, inside, materials were selected according to the ease of installation, cost, maintenance and their impact on resident health. The result is a resounding testament to the untapped power of Passive House design in multifamily housing.
A five-story mixed-use development with commercial space on the ground floor and 45 rental units above, this project achieved Passive House certification, utilizes mass timber construction and is an all-electric, Net Zero Ready Building. The upper floors facing Broadway showcase a mosaic of rainscreen siding, reducing massing while providing shading and play of light through deep windows.
Located in East Harlem, the design for this massive housing complex, home to 709 affordable units, prioritizes Passive House principles without compromising on design excellence. Inspired by a historic trail that once traversed the location, the project organizes itself into three distinct volumes, which frame a central meandering landscaped path. that culminates in a captivating central courtyard. This dynamic space cascades across various levels, fostering the creation of individual community gardens.
These two new sculptural buildings in Hamberg extend a traditional working class residential area, reinterpreting the original architectural language or the area while simultaneously reconciling them with the high energy efficiency requirements of a passive house building. The resulting complex adds seventy-five publicly funded housing units that vary in size and layout (for single persons, couples and families), thereby extending the principals of the surrounding urban fabric — IBA 2013, an intercultural housing project designed to house over 1,700 people from 30 different nations.
The SIX, a LEED Gold-certified affordable housing project, redefines shelter for previously homeless veterans in McArthur Park. Breaking from traditional layouts, it prioritizes public areas over private space: four levels of housing units surround a courtyard with green-roofed balconies, visually connecting to the street below.
Ville Verdi transcends traditional housing, embracing passive house elements to form an eco-friendly haven. Comprising 5 villas with 34 residential units each, the design emphasizes barrier-free accessibility and communal spaces, fostering a sense of community.
Designed to operate with an impressive 85 percent less energy than typical New York City apartment buildings, this groundbreaking six-story residential building in Bushwick was the country’s first mid-sized apartment complex adhering to Passive House design standards. Featuring 24 units of affordable housing, each rental residence incorporates individual ventilation systems, small radiators for heating and airtight window air conditioning units, meeting the stringent Passive House criteria. The triple-paned windows and a sculpted exterior facade utilizing STO EIFS insulation optimize energy performance by minimizing heat loss in winter and reducing solar heat gain in summer.
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