Social risks of offshore floating photovoltaic systems

SUREWAVE D7.5

Authors: Hanna Karg, Heiko Keller

The SUREWAVE project "Structurally reliable offshore floating PV solution integrating circular concrete floating breakwater", funded by the European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation funding programme, is developing and testing a new concept for floating photovoltaic (FPV) systems in offshore marine environments. The main challenge is to protect the solar modules from the sometimes harsh weather and marine conditions. The aim is to massively expand the area suitable for PV installations and thus to support the European Union’s decarbonisation ambitions. Among other things, the project has developed floating breakwaters made of innovative concrete mixtures and innovative, more stable connectors between the individual solar modules.

The project is accompanied by an integrated sustainability assessment. The sustainability of the innovative concept was analysed from a technological, environmental, social and economic perspective. This study presents the results of the social assessment carried out by ifeu.