The Port of Valencia has become a testing site for a floating solar energy project designed to operate in marine conditions.

Spain’s first pre-commercial offshore floating solar demonstrator is fully installed and entering its testing phase. The project has a combined capacity of one megawatt.

The installation consists of two 500-kilowatt platforms developed by BlueNewables with support from Naturgy.

Built at the San Enrique shipyard in Vigo, the platforms are named Paiporta and Catarroja, honoring two Valencian municipalities severely affected by the devastating floods of 2024.

The next stage will assess how the equipment performs in a real marine environment, including its operation, maintenance needs and suitability for port areas.

Floating solar installations could provide another option for producing electricity where land is scarce or expensive. This project will help establish how the technology works in practice before wider deployment.

Naturgy and BlueNewables will exchange technical, operational and economic information over two years, examining performance, costs and lessons from the installation.

The project remains a demonstration and testing programme. Its results will help determine the technology’s potential for ports and other coastal locations.