BayWa r.e., a German renewable energy developer, has completed the transfer of the largest floating solar project ever designed in the Netherlands. The project, located in Skûlenboarch in the Friesland province, was sold to a consortium composed of local energy cooperative Enerzjyk Skûlenboarch, the municipality of Tytsjerksteradiel and the Friesland Clean Energy Fund.
A large-scale project spanning 35 hectares
With an installed capacity of 46 megawatts (MW), the solar installation will cover a 35-hectare surface area. It will generate electricity equivalent to the annual consumption of more than 15,500 Dutch households. This project also represents the largest floating solar park ever developed by BayWa r.e. through its Dutch subsidiary GroenLeven.
The purchasing consortium will oversee construction of the park, to be built on a local water body, with financial and technical support from the Friesland Clean Energy Fund and the municipality. The project includes additional infrastructure such as a mountain biking trail and a fishing dock, the latter already installed.
Growing momentum for floating solar
Installing solar panels on inland water bodies such as artificial lakes or former sand quarries is becoming a recurring strategy in several European countries. This technology allows for optimised land use while benefiting from the natural cooling of the panels by water, which increases their efficiency.
According to BayWa r.e. representatives, the deal reflects the company’s willingness to adopt local investment models involving cooperatives and public stakeholders. BayWa r.e.’s Chief Operating Officer (COO) Dr Daniel Gaefke stated that the transaction demonstrates the group’s ability to carry out projects with shared governance models and local economic benefits.
An expanding cooperative model
The project’s governance will be handled locally, a strategic choice aligned with trends observed in the Dutch solar sector. Cooperative structures allow communities to retain the economic value generated in their regions while increasing acceptance for large-scale projects.
Maura van de Meent, Managing Director of GroenLeven, stated that the sale reflects the company’s ambition to strengthen the share of solar in the Dutch energy mix through large-scale solutions deployed at the regional level.
