Recording of Tuesday, May 06, 2025 | The smarter E Europe Conferences 2025 | Conference Program | Language: English | Duration: 17:38 .

Inconsistent Policies and Regulations Hinder Full-Scale Commercialization of Floating PV Projects in Europe, Says BayWa r.e.

Thomas's overview of global floating photovoltaic (PV) developments reveals over 9 gigawatts installed globally, with Europe lagging behind. BayWa r.e., a key player in Europe's floating PV scene, accounts for more than half of the region's installations despite higher CAPEX and only slight energy yield improvements compared to ground-mounted systems. The benefits include land conservation and water management advantages like algae control. European policies vary across five countries; some offer regulatory support and financial incentives while others do not. Austria is praised for its flexible regulations allowing project-specific evaluations without arbitrary limits, contrasting Italy’s mixed results from previous decrees promoting renewables including floating PVs. Italy made errors by overestimating offshore capacity viability and setting low bidding ceilings but introduced Fair-X Transitorio decree to incentivize northern projects due to southern grid issues. Germany restricts development with a conservative water coverage ratio pending approval of an innovative solar packet plan by the European Commission. France lacks specific rules leading to slow processes under general procedures, whereas Spain imposes complex legislation limiting large-scale projects' water body coverage ratios between 5-15%. Regulatory inconsistencies hinder full commercialization despite decreasing costs and potential opportunities identified in SolarPower Europe reports that remain unimplemented.

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Speaker

Michele Tagliapietra
Head of Product Management Floating-PV
BayWa r.e.
Belgium

Talk of session: Floating Solar Power: Cost Savings & Reliability - How to Prevent Your Business Case from Failing

Floating solar holds significant potential in regions with abundant water bodies, but practical challenges and high costs have tempered expectations in Europe. While technological advancements are gradually improving feasibility, and companies are even looking for new solutions, such as hybrid-offshore systems, navigating the complexities of deployment, reliability, and financing remains critical for long-term success. This session will discuss: Overview of floating PV market developments Challenges, lessons learned and innovative approaches Environmental implications of FPV applications Technology innovations & standardization developments Cost reduction strategies and financing solutions.

Further Talks of this session:

Welcome & Introduction

Speaker

Michele Tagliapietra
Head of Product Management Floating-PV
BayWa r.e.
Belgium

To Talk

PV Market Overview & Technology Update

Speaker

Dr. Thomas Reindl
Deputy CEO, Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS), National University of Singapore (NUS) Cluster Director,
Solar Energy Systems
Singapore

Recording of presentation not authorized for publication.

Techno-Financial Analysis of Hybrid Offshore Solar-Wind Farms: A Business-Case Assessment

Speaker

Sarah Kluge
Project Manager
Dutch Marine Energy Centre
The Netherlands

To Talk

Model to Predict Impact of Floating Solar on Water Quality, Based on Collected Data

Speaker

Dr. Wilma Eerenstein
Owner / Senior Consultant
Renergize Consultancy
The Netherlands

To Talk

New DNV Design Standards for Floaters and Mooring

Speaker

Jasper Lemmens
Senior Consultant
DNV Netherlands B.V.
The Netherlands

To Talk

Scalability of Floating Solar Projects in Diverse Regions: Key Strategies for Success

Speaker

Vincent Grumetz
EMEA Managing Director
Ciel & Terre International
France

Recording of presentation not authorized for publication.

Q&A Session

To Talk