Here’s a fresh take on the Mocean-SolarDuck partnership, diving into the implications for offshore energy and the Blue Economy.
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The offshore energy sector just got a shot of innovation. Scottish wave energy pioneer Mocean Energy and Dutch floating solar specialist SolarDuck have inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to combine their technologies into hybrid power systems. This isn’t just another tech collaboration—it’s a strategic bet on the future of remote offshore energy, blending wave and solar to power everything from defence sites to deep-sea infrastructure.
The partnership targets high-value, hard-to-reach locations where traditional grid connections are impractical. By merging Mocean’s wave energy converters with SolarDuck’s floating solar platforms, the duo aims to deliver reliable, low-carbon power for offshore assets. Think of it as a plug-and-play energy hub for the Blue Economy—no cables, no fossil fuels, just waves and sunlight.
Cameron McNatt, Managing Director at Mocean Energy, frames this as more than a tech experiment. “This MoU marks the next step in a promising business and technical collaboration,” he says, emphasising the focus on “providing power and communications to remote sites in challenging environments.” The two companies, both backed by Norwegian clean-tech investor Katapult Ocean, have already identified opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region, where offshore energy demand is surging.
Mocean’s Blue X prototype has already proven its mettle, delivering consistent renewable power in offshore trials. Now, the company is gearing up to deploy Blue Star, its next-generation wave energy device designed for long-term scalability. Pairing this with SolarDuck’s floating solar tech could unlock new efficiencies, especially in regions where weather variability demands a hybrid approach.
Arnaud Ayral, Chief Commercial Officer at SolarDuck, highlights the synergy: “By combining complementary technologies, we aim to unlock new capabilities and value for customers in the offshore sector.” This isn’t just about slashing emissions—it’s about redefining how offshore industries operate. From oil and gas platforms to aquaculture farms, the need for resilient, sustainable power is growing fast.
The collaboration also underscores a broader trend: offshore renewables are no longer a niche play. Anthony Bellafiore, Investment Manager at Katapult Ocean, calls it a “systemic impact” opportunity. “We continue to back it because of its outsized ability to generate systemic impact and shift our blue economy from an extractive industry to a more sustainable one.”
What’s next? The two companies will dive into engineering studies and commercial opportunities, sharing insights to refine their joint offering. If successful, this could set a new standard for offshore power—one where wave and solar work in tandem to keep remote operations running smoothly.
The real question is whether this hybrid model can scale. If Mocean and SolarDuck crack the code, they might just redefine the future of offshore energy.