OPPV research project approaching final stage

OPPV Power and data centre

The Offshore Passive Photo Voltaic project, which is financed by the Malta Council for Science & Technology, for and on behalf of the Foundation for Science and Technology, through the R&I Technology Development Programme, is now reaching its final stages.

The participants in this project are MCAST (Institute of Engineering and Transport), Malta Mariculture Ltd (part of Azzopardi Fisheries), Econetique and Mirarco, a Canadian organisation.

The earlier stages of the project involved the design of two PV systems – one installed on land and the other at sea. A number of tests have already been undertaken and this has led to the implementation of an offshore 8kW floating PV system. The objective behind this project is primarily to investigate the possibility of utilising Maltese waters to generate electricity in a sustainable and renewable manner. The concept is to have floating flexible PV panels. The mooring of these panels has been provided by Azzopardi Fisheries.