RWE - Experts & Thought Leaders

With the support of RWE, the Dutch-Norwegian company SolarDuck, has installed its offshore floating solar (OFPV) project, Merganser. The pilot project aims to test and demonstrate the structural, mooring, and electrical designs and acquire knowledge about manufacturing, assembly, offshore installation, and maintenance methodologies required for large-scale commercial deployment of OFPV.  Merganser Merganser has a capacity of 0.5 megawatt peak (MWp) and is located in the Dutch North Sea, approximately 12 kilometers off the coast of Scheveningen. The scalable concept consists of six interconnected platforms that can withstand extreme offshore conditions. The floating platforms were successfully connected to the mooring system at a water depth of 20 meters. RWE will continue to provide its offshore know-how and technical support to the pilot project.  Renewable energy Sven Utermöhlen, CEO of RWE Offshore Wind, “Standalone or also in combination with offshore wind farms, offshore floating solar could open up further offshore renewable energy opportunities, especially for countries with lower average wind speeds but lots of sunlight." "With Merganser, we are gaining unique insights and first-hand experience in one of the most challenging offshore environments in the world.”  Semi-submersible floating structure SolarDuck's triangular-shaped platform is designed to float several meters above the water, following the waves Taking solar farms offshore requires technology that can withstand rough offshore conditions. SolarDuck's triangular-shaped platform is designed to float several meters above the water, following the waves like a carpet.  In this way, the design keeps critical components dry, clean, and stable, as well as securing the structural integrity of the semi-submersible floating structure. The design received recently the world’s first certification for OFPV by Bureau Veritas.  Offshore floating solar Koen Burgers, CEO of SolarDuck, “The successful installation of Merganser is proof of the dedication of SolarDuck’s team to electrify the world with offshore floating solar. However, we are not doing this alone." "Our project partner, RWE, is a supporter of our technology and vision, in addition to other partners such as TNO, TU Delft, MARIN, and Deltares. Together with numerous supply chain partners, including Damen Shipyards, TMA, and Norsk Hydro, we have turned hard work into a positive change for the energy space.”  Monitoring campaign The combination of RWE's global market position in offshore wind and SolarDuck's technological ingenuity set the perfect base for accelerating the deployment of OFPV. Over the coming two years, Merganser will be monitored remotely with its more than 180 sensors fitted to monitor structural loads, connector and mooring loads, and electrical performance, among other important performance criteria. Further to the above, Deltares - a Dutch independent institute for applied research - will support an extensive monitoring campaign on the ecological impact of OFPV.

The Nautical SUNRISE project is set to support the world's largest Offshore Floating Solar power installation. The € 8.4 million project, supported by € 6.8 million of the Horizon Europe program, kicked off in December 2023 to execute research and development on offshore floating solar (OFS) systems and its components. The outcomes of the project will enable the large-scale deployment and commercialization of OFS systems in the future, both as standalone systems and integrated into offshore wind farms. 5 MW oFS system This project aims to design, build, and showcase a 5 MW offshore floating solar system using the modular solution of the Dutch floating solar company SolarDuck. With RWE providing the investment for the installation and deployment, the system is planned to be electrically integrated, certified, and located within RWE’s OranjeWind (Hollandse Kust West VII) wind farm off the west coast of The Netherlands.  reliability, survivability, electrical stability A comprehensive scale-up plan will address the challenges and create opportunities Before the offshore deployment, the Nautical SUNRISE consortium will conduct extensive research and testing to ensure the reliability, survivability, electrical stability, and yield of offshore floating solar systems. A comprehensive scale-up plan will address the challenges and create opportunities to drive forward the commercialization of offshore floating solar systems.  environmental impact and sustainability With sustainability in mind, Nautical SUNRISE is committed to considering the environmental impact and sustainability of OFS. The project will assess the environmental footprint, circularity, and full life cycle sustainability of offshore floating solar systems. This assessment will not only cover the demonstrator project but also include multiple GW-scale commercial projects, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the technology's ecological implications.  offshore renewable energy This subsidy allows SolarDuck with its partners to push the environmental boundary of the design" The Nautical SUNRISE consortium is looking forward to paving the way for a new era in offshore renewable energy, contributing to a more sustainable future for generations to come.  SolarDuck’s CTO Don Hoogendoorn says, “This subsidy allows SolarDuck with its partners to push the environmental boundary of the design and at the same time get an in-depth understanding of the ecological and reliability of the design.”  addressing gaps around the design DMEC CTO Simon Stark says, “We are excited to coordinate the Nautical SUNRISE project as one of the flagship initiatives of offshore solar in Europe." "Not only do we have the chance to address important knowledge gaps around the design and environmental impact of offshore solar. Together with RWE and the OranjeWind consortium, we can do so in full alignment and integration with a commercial offshore wind park.”  Nautical SUNRISE consortium partners  The project is made possible via a collaboration of its partners: project lead Dutch Marine Energy Centre (DMEC), SolarDuck, RWE, Blunova - a Carlo Maresca Group company, Bridon-Bekaert The Ropes Group, Deltares, Hasselt University (UHasselt), KU Leuven, Oxford PV, SINTEF Industry, SINTEF Ocean, The Catalonia Institute for Energy Research (IREC-CERCA), INESC TEC, and WavEC Offshore Renewables. 

On April 1, 2024, Dr. Catharina Friedrich will take over the management of the Westenergie subsidiary - DigiKoo GmbH, which provides municipal utilities, municipalities, network operators, and utility companies with data as well as analysis and forecasting systems for shaping the energy transition. As a member of the board of Rhenag Rheinische Energie AG, Friedrich has previously been responsible for the utility company's operational energy business and succeeds Martin Möller, who will leave the Westenergie Group on March 31, 2024.  Catharina's experience Dr. Catharina Friedrich has extensive professional experience in the energy industry. The graduate mathematician and doctor of engineering began her career at RWE Rhein-Ruhr Netzservice GmbH and quickly assumed management responsibility in various roles. After working in various staff functions and as head of the construction planning department, Friedrich took over the management of the Sieg regional center of Westnetz GmbH. In this role, she was responsible for the planning, construction, and operation of the electrical and gas distribution networks together with around 200 employees.  operational energy It has been known since November 2023 that Friedrich will resign from her position on the Board of Management On January 1, 2020, Dr. Catharina Friedrich was appointed to the Board of Management of Rhenag Rheinische Energie AG and assumed responsibility for the operational energy business, from sales to technical issues to renewable energies. It has been known since November 2023 that Friedrich will resign from her position on the Board of Management of Rhenag on March 31, 2024.  heat transition "We are delighted that Dr. Catharina Friedrich is returning to her old place of work and will be a valuable addition to the Westenergie Group team in the future. She is an established expert in the challenges of the operational energy business," said Stefan Küppers, Chief Technology Officer of Westenergie AG.  He adds, "From her previous role, she knows very well how the heat transition will affect the existing infrastructure. I wish Dr. Friedrich every success in her work." strategic business area Katherina Reiche, CEO of Westenergie AG, stated, "Thanks to her expertise - most recently in the municipal environment - and her experience in the energy industry, Dr. Friedrich is the right person to further develop DigiKoo and the strategic business area of ​​heat planning within the corporate group."  She adds, "We would like to thank Martin Möller very much for his outstanding performance in various important functions for the group." significant contribution Katherina Reiche continues, "Not only has he made a significant contribution to the strategic development of the Westenergie Group, but as managing director he has also successfully built up DigiKoo and ensured the company's consistent growth." "I am grateful for the close and trusting cooperation over the past few years. I am pleased that Martin Möller will continue to work on the major challenges of the global energy industry in his new role and wish him all the best for this task and personally," adds Katherina Reiche.  Martin Möller He made a significant contribution to the cultural integration of the individual units of Westenergie Martin Möller joined the RWE Group in 2012. After working at RWE Consulting and as head of international market development in the grid division of innogy SE, he led the project to set up what is the Westenergie Group. He then took over the corporate development department, coordinated the creation of the Westenergie Group's corporate strategy, and, among other things, made a significant contribution to the cultural integration of the individual units of the Westenergie Group with the Westwärts project. global energy networks Since the beginning of 2022, Möller has initially been the managing director of DigiKoo, which he has successfully positioned on the market since then. On April 1, 2024, Martin Möller will take on a responsible role outside the group as an expert in global energy networks at a renowned management consultancy.