Bright times for HelioRec, GreenPipe and the Port of Oostende!
The floating solar pilot implemented in the DUAL Ports project and its key characteristics were presented in the Business Focus Magazine. The floating panels are wind and wave-resistant. The patented “hydrolock” feature provides extra stability without the need to include more ballast, thus cutting costs for materials such as metal or concrete.
The power plants also use machine learning to predict energy generation for more efficiency and O&M optimisation. On top of this, the floating system is formed from recycled plastic, furthering its sustainability credentials. considering further expansion.
“We are looking to install more projects, around 10-50 kilowatts in size. We are also looking for more investors. In addition to this, we are looking at entering the US market”, said Polina Vasilenko, HelioRec´s CEO and founder.
See the full article here.
HelioRec won the Ocean Tribute Award provided by The Prince Albert II Foundation, Monaco and others
After testing its solar floating plat at the Port of Oostende together with GreenPipe within the scope of the DUAL Ports project, HelioRec was awarded the Ocean Tribute Award 2022 provided by THE PRINCE ALBERT II OF MONACO FOUNDATION (GB), German Ocean Foundation and Messe boot Düsseldorf.
“And the winner is: HelioRec,” Petros Michelidakis announces in the award ceremony film.
And his fellow competitor Frank Schweikert explains why both the jury and the public voted for HelioRec from Nantes:
“The French company scores with its environmentally friendly electric charging stations (ECS) for the maritime sector based on floating solar power plants. Unused water is converted into a clean energy source through a floating offshore solar cell system. The main objectives of the project are to save land area in a port area, generate a clean energy source, establish fast charging stations for electric vehicles and electric boats in the port, and realize new digital services for data prediction and optimization. Other concepts of the project are fast charging stations for electric vehicles and electric boats in the port. Another goal is the circular economy approach: recycled plastic is used to manufacture floating systems, reducing system costs and carbon footprint.”
More info here.
A unique pilot project with floating solar panels was launched in mid-January 2022 in the Belgian Port of Oostende. The purpose is to test whether the technology works and especially whether the floating solar power plant can cope in changing weather conditions.
Greenpipe, with great support from project partner HelioRec, is proud to announce the successful installation of the floating solar plant. The 10kWp floating solar plant was installed on the 14th of January 2022 in the Port of Oostende as a part of the DUAL Ports EU program.
Greenpipe is the project partner to Dual Ports with Heliorec as a subcontractor for the installation and analysis.
The French-based startup HelioRec was founded by Polina Vasilenko in 2019. She is also CEO of the innovative company:
“The project during the current challenging time has been successful thanks to the great support from all parties. It engaged 10 companies from 7 countries. The floating solar plant in Ostend port helps us to improve technology, step closer to commercialization, and contribute to building the clean and sustainable European ecosystem”, said Polina Vasilenko.
The 10kWp (130 m2) floating solar project was built as a key part of the DUAL Ports EU-funded initiative. The system is designed for 44 m/s wind speed and 2 m waves.
During storm Corrie and Eunice in February the installation was tested with high windspeeds from 22 m/s to 32 m/s – and the innovative power plant survived the test.
“During storm Eunice and the tough conditions, the power plant produced 6.4kWh and could supply energy for lighting and heater in the workshop at Port of Oostende” said Polina Vasilenko.
Difficult installation
The floating solar panels were assembled at the harbour and lifted into the water with a crane.
“It was quite complicated and difficult as this wasn’t standard procedure. The installation was successful because of a high-level professionalism of Oostende Port team, and shortly after the installation solar power plant started to produce power,” said Polina Vasilenko from HelioRec.
The power from the solar panels is used in a nearby workshop where an old boat is undergoing restoration.
Port of Oostende facilitated the test site at the harbour and Jan Allaert from Port of Oostende is looking forward to following the testing of the floating solar power plant as it has great potential with floating solar panels in and around ports.
“We are very focused on the blue economy and innovation of new zero carbon energy solutions and we are a hub for testing solar power. Solar power has a big potential, and it is important to test the various solutions,” said Jan Allaert, commercial manager Port of Oostende.
Test in two phases
The test in Port of Oostende is in two phases. Until July 14, the 130 m2 solar panels will be tested in the inner harbour behind the lock and after July 14th the floating solar power plant will be moved out of the inner harbour and onto the other side of the lock.
Among other things, the impact of the tidal difference will be tested here.
Energy storage added
Late February Heliorec added an energy storage system (ESS) to the floating solar power plant.
ESS is a specific type of power system that integrates a power grid connection with a Victron Energy Inverter/Charger, GX device, and battery system. It stores solar energy into a battery during the day, for use later when the sun stops shining.
HelioRec sees great potential in floating solar panels in and around ports and at high sea.
“Market potential is huge, and we are ready to launch large facilities into commercial operation. Our system is ready,” says Polina Vasilenko.
Solar panel reduces cost and emission
In this small-scale pilot preliminary results shows that the floating solar panels is producing more electricity than the workshop could consume.
From mid- to april 1st 486 kWh was consumed and that reduced carbon emission with approx. 115 kg and electricity costs with approximately 145 euro.
Project benefits:
- Saving land space
- Clean energy
- Grid dependence reduction
- System movement analysing and correlation
with energy production
See more details on the floating solar panels in this document
A new floating solar power plant has been set up in the Port of Oostende in Belgium.
Greenpipe, with great support from project partner HelioRec, is proud to announce the successful installation of the floating solar plant. The 10kWp floating solar plant was installed on the 14th of January 2022 in the Port Oostende under the DUAL Ports EU program.
Greenpipe is the project partner to Dual Ports with Heliorec as subcontractor for the installation and analysis.
Undertaking the project during the current challenging time has become successful thanks to the great support from all parties. It engaged 10 companies from 7 countries.
The 10kWp (130 m2) floating solar project was built as a key part of the DUAL Ports EU-funded initiative. The system is designed for 44 m/s wind speed and 2 m waves. It already produces 50kWh of clean energy to a nearby workshop.
HelioRec is proud to announce the completion of the new project. We installed the 10kWp floating solar plant on the 14th of January 2022 in the Oostende Port under the DualPorts EU program. Undertaking the project during the current challenging time has become successful thanks to the great support from all parties. It engaged 10 companies from 7 countries. The floating solar plant in Oostende port helps us to improve technology, step closer to commercialization, and contribute to building the clean and sustainable European ecosystem“, said Polina Vasilenko, Heliorec´s Founder and CEO.
Project benefits:
- Saving land space
- Clean energy
- Grid dependence reduction
- System movement analysing and correlation
with energy production
See more details on the floating solar panels in this document
Announcement from Greenpipe, August 31, 2021
At Greenpipe we are driven to develop and invent sustainable and green solutions. Therefore, we are proud to announce the next project to further contribute to future generations. The pilot project is looking to improve the possibility of producing renewable energy via floating solar panels using recycling plastic waste to build the floaters, thus working on the basis of a circular economy.
Within the project our established subsea cable protection, Snap Panzar™, will be incorporated to protect the power plant’s export cables.
The pilot project, which is a cooperation with the French start-up company HelioRec aim to revolutionize green electricity production, is financed with support from the Interreg North Sea Region Dual Ports programme – Developing Low carbon Utilities, Abilities and potential of regional entrepreneurial ports (10/11/2015-31/12/2021). Dual Ports is a €8,69m project, 50% co-funded by the European Union and the European Regional Development Fund through the Interreg North Sea Region Programme, Eco-innovation priority.
At a first stage, the floating solar power plant of 10 kW will provide electricity to a warehouse in the Port Oostende, Belgium, where an old boat is being restored. This will minimize the use of the existing diesel generator and consequently 924 kgCO2eq. per year will be reduced. The floating solar power plant will be installed during October 2021.
The main parameters of the power plant will be assessed:
– Survivability in sea-conditions of power plant with Snap Panzar™ cable protection pipes
– System movement
– Energy production evaluation
– Hydrophobic additives assessment
With the future possibility to install floating solar power plants, we are looking to reduce CAPEX&OPEX of power plants to increase the efficiency of solar panels and save land space. For more info on DUAL Ports: https://lnkd.in/emdy3FWy
