Anchoring of floating solar farm in Raalte

Knoop BV was responsible for the complete anchoring of the floating solar park at Zonnepark Rekoplas in Raalte. The park has been built on a former sand extraction lake between Raalte and Lemelerveld and has an installed capacity of approximately 13 MWp. This generates enough renewable energy each year to meet the average electricity consumption of around 3,750 Dutch households.

In a floating solar farm, the mooring system forms the basis for a safe and reliable installation. The mooring system must be capable of withstanding the forces caused by wind, waves and fluctuating water levels throughout the entire lifespan of the farm, without compromising the position of the floating structure. For Rekoplas, we developed a bespoke solution that is fully tailored to the project-specific conditions of the sand extraction lake.

This project also marked the first practical application of the revamped layout of our anchoring platform. The new layout was developed with a strong focus on safety, efficiency and accuracy. For example, the GPS control room and the canteen have been integrated into the platform, further optimising communication between the engineering and operations teams. In addition, we deployed a new type of crane for moving and positioning the anchors, which resulted in greater control during the work and more efficient execution.

The revised working method immediately proved its value. Thanks to improved on-board logistics, short lines of communication and accurate GPS support, the mooring operations were carried out safely, efficiently and on schedule.

In addition to its technical performance, the Rekoplas Solar Park contributes to making the region more sustainable. The project demonstrates that sustainable energy generation and careful planning of the living environment go hand in hand. We are proud that our anchoring solution forms the solid foundation for a facility that will produce reliable, sustainable energy for many years to come.