The Regulatory Authority is seeking developers to explore floating solar technology to help achieve Bermuda’s renewable energy goals.

It said that panels installed on the ocean were capable of delivering clean power “without taking up valuable land”.

The electricity sector regulator said traditional large-scale solar farms were “difficult to accommodate” while floating solar presented a practical alternative.

The RA said panels could be placed in designated marine areas to generate up to ten megawatts of renewable energy.

Nigel Burgess, a chartered engineer and the director of energy at the RA, said: “Floating solar is an emerging technology with real potential for Bermuda.

“It gives us the ability to capture the island’s strong solar resource without competing for limited land.

“The systems are designed to withstand marine conditions and, if successful, could help diversify our energy mix while keeping costs and reliability in focus.

“This is about applying engineering innovation to Bermuda’s unique challenges.”

The RA’s request for expressions of interest invited qualified developers to offer proposals on how floating solar could be deployed locally, from technical design and site assessments through to construction and operation.

The regulator said: “The process will also assess cost impacts, helping determine whether floating solar can deliver affordable, clean energy for consumers.

The initiative is part of Bermuda’s broader energy transition, which includes examining alternative generation sources identified under the integrated resource plan, which decides the island’s future energy mix.

“The RA will manage a staged and competitive selection process to ensure transparency, value for money and adherence to regulatory standards,” the authority added.

If realised, the RA said the project would mark “the first of its kind in Bermuda” and could play an important role in meeting the island’s target, under the present IRP, of sourcing 85 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2035.

Belco’s preferred IRP proposal, for the next phase of the plan yet to be approved, seeks to achieve 85 per cent renewable energy by 2040.

Interested developers should submit their expressions of interest by November 4.

Full details, including submission requirements, are available at www.ra.bm or by e-mailing electricity@ra.bm.