SolarDuck and the Maritime Research Institute Netherlands (MARIN) have secured €3.2 million ($3.7 million) in funding to develop the design of an offshore floating solar platform intended to provide power and communications for remote offshore infrastructure.
The funding has been awarded under the Netherlands Enterprise Agency’s (RVO) Steady Seas research programme, with work now set to begin on the next stage of technology development.
SolarDuck will lead the design and system integration of the Offshore Floating Power & Utility Hub (OFPH), while MARIN will carry out hydrodynamic modelling, simulations and basin testing to assess the platform’s performance in offshore conditions.
Offshore energy developments are moving into deeper waters and further from shore, increasing demand for dependable local power. Existing solutions, such as long subsea cables, umbilicals and diesel generators, can be expensive to install, vulnerable to damage and carbon intensive.
The proposed Offshore Floating Power & Utility Hub is designed to generate renewable electricity directly at offshore sites while also providing communications and utility services. The platform incorporates energy storage and auxiliary systems to maintain continuous operation, potentially reducing the need for conventional offshore power infrastructure.
The Steady Seas programme builds on operational experience gained through SolarDuck’s Merganser offshore solar demonstration project in the Dutch North Sea. The new research will focus on developing a commercial-ready platform tailored to offshore energy applications rather than a conventional floating solar installation.
Under the programme, engineers will investigate hydrodynamic performance, mooring behaviour, platform motion, power and communications integration, and connections with subsea infrastructure. MARIN’s testing programme is intended to validate how the structure performs under realistic wave and weather conditions before larger demonstration projects are undertaken.
The partners believe the technology could support a range of offshore sectors, including oil and gas production, carbon capture and storage (CCS), subsea monitoring systems and tie-back developments, where reliable local power remains a significant technical challenge.
If successful, the research could help establish a new category of offshore renewable infrastructure capable of supplying clean electricity directly to remote marine assets. By reducing reliance on diesel generation and long-distance electrical connections, the platform could lower operating costs while supporting the decarbonisation of offshore energy operations.
