en.Wedoany.com Reported - Spanish shipyard Astilleros San Enrique held a launching ceremony for the Catarroja offshore floating photovoltaic platform, the second platform of this type developed within the framework of the Renovar project. The project is led jointly by the Galician shipyard Marina Meridional Group, the Tenerife engineering consultancy BlueNewables, and Naturgy, with Asturian manufacturer Alusin Solar participating in the structural design and manufacturing. The goal is to advance renewable energy solutions related to the maritime sector.
Catarroja is part of the PVbos (PhotoVoltaic-Bluenewables Offshore Solutions) system. The project comprises two PVbos units, each rated at 500 kW, forming a 1 MW floating photovoltaic system designed to operate in open sea areas using high-capacity technology, with an expected annual energy output of 1,500 MWh.
The platform is manufactured using an industrialized, modular process. Each structure measures 64 meters in length and 41 meters in width, with 600 photovoltaic modules integrated on the deck. The design, patented by BlueNewables, aims at rapid manufacturing, simple maintenance, and maximized power generation.
The solution adopts a catamaran-type design optimized for marine conditions, raising the modules above sea level to improve performance and facilitate maintenance. Bifacial modules utilize both direct solar radiation and reflected light from the sea surface to enhance system efficiency. The PVbos technology consists of two parts: the structural floats and the deck on which the modules are installed. The platform includes a technical space for installing inverters and transformers to evaluate prototype performance and feed electricity into the Port of Valencia grid. The structure meets the safety requirements for onboard operations.
According to BlueNewables, the solution has a distinctly naval character, allowing it to integrate with the existing construction and logistics capabilities of shipyards and ports. Astilleros San Enrique is certified as an offshore structure manufacturer and will participate in the BalWin 1 project developed by Dragados and Siemens, a 2 GW high-voltage direct current (HVDC) converter station platform for offshore energy transmission.
The launching ceremony took place during high tide, with approximately 15 professionals involved in the operation. Two high-capacity pico-pato cranes (duck-bill cranes) at the shipyard simultaneously lifted the structure, weighing over 200 tons, from the slipway where final assembly had been completed.
Catarroja follows the project's first unit, Paiporta, which is already in operation at the Port of Valencia. Both names are taken from Valencian municipalities affected by the DANA (isolated high-altitude low-pressure system) in 2024.
Astilleros San Enrique stated that, in addition to technological innovation, the project seeks to drive the industrialization of these solutions through batch processes, in which the shipyard plays a strategic role. This model will help optimize manufacturing times, reduce costs, and enhance the competitiveness of floating photovoltaics as a complement to other renewable energy sources such as offshore wind. The initiative has received institutional support from the Spanish Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE) through the RENMARINAS program, as well as collaboration from SOERMAR through the Renovar project, which is supported by the Ministry of Industry and Tourism.
