A study of thin-film PV’s commercial viability in an offshore floating project has begun with the 20 kW, 91 meters squared “Solar@Sea II” installation on Oostvoornse Meer lake, an artificial saltwater body next to the Maasvlakte port in the Netherlands. Research firm TNO is heading a consortium including Bluewater Energy Services, Genap, Marin, Endures, and Avans University of Applied Sciences. The special appeal here is the use of copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) solar panels. Thin and flexible, they will require a less hefty platform to keep them afloat, and will have a much lower wind profile due to bending with the waves – which means light or fewer anchors are needed. The first Solar@Sea Project was installed in the…