Innosea has joined the owner’s engineer team as technical advisor for one of the world’s largest floating solar photovoltaic (FPV) projects, to be built at the Nam Theun 2 hydropower plant reservoir, Laos.

The FPV project envisages the construction and installation of a 240 MWp floating solar plant covering an area of about 3.2 square kilometers, at the Nam Theun 2 hydropower station, Laos. The hydropower dam’s solar extension will increase existing electricity generation with minimal use of space and no land intrusion

Innosea, which is part of AqualisBraemar LOC Group (ABL Group),will provide support for wave and anchoring studies, during the course of the development of the project where hydro and floating solar plants will be mutually beneficial.  The floating solar islands are expected to reduce water evaporation that will in turn increase annual power production of the hydropower plant.

“The Nam Theun 2 solar project is exciting as it can demonstrate cost and energy potential from integrating FPV with existing power plants and technologies. Energy clustering of solar with hydropower is believed to potentially boost electrical output of existing plants by 10 percent, without occupying land space. It’s also a privilege to support Laos in the development of what is projected to be one of the world’s largest FPV plants.”

Benoit Briere, Snr. Project Manager, Innosea

Innosea is a leading engineering, design and R&D consulting firm specialising in marine renewables. The company has contributed to more than 60 FPV projects over five continents.

“FPV continues to grow exponentially, and we are pleased to have been expanding our FPV project and service portfolio on a similarly rapid growth trajectory in Asia, Europe and the Americas.”

Benoit Briered, Innosea

Within FPV, Innosea provides a range of engineering and advisory services including structural engineering, hydrodynamic modelling, technical due diligence and strategy advisory, tank testing amongst others. The company’s FPV expertise also extends to several multi-national R&D and joint venture projects.