SWiM

About

Founded in 2024, SWiM is a government headquartered in Oostende, Belgium specializing in Solar, Wind.

The SWiM (Solar and Wind in the Belgian Marine Zone) project researches the boundary conditions for deploying offshore floating photovoltaics (OFPV) in Belgian waters, particularly within existing wind farms. The project examines electrical performance, structural design, marine ecology impacts, cable thermal limits, and regulatory frameworks. Key research areas include resource complementarity between wind and solar, optimal placement of floating PV within wind farms to increase capacity density, reliability of components in harsh offshore conditions, and environmental sustainability. The project is organized into six work packages covering technical, ecological, policy, and coordination aspects, with guidance from an Advisory Board of industry experts. Partners include Blue Cluster, Laborelec, KU Leuven/EnergyVille, UHasselt/EnergyVille, Imec/EnergyVille, and RBINS, supported by workshops and stakeholder engagement to inform marine spatial planning and permitting procedures.