Floating device for the installation of offshore photovoltaic panels and installation method

1 . A floating device for the installation of offshore photovoltaic panels, the floating device being characterized in that it comprises:

a plurality of main floating bodies, arranged such that they define a floating plane, the main floating bodies being configured to displace at least 80 cubic metres of water in total; and the most distant of the plurality of main floating bodies being spaced from one another by at least a distance of 10 metres, wherein the main floating bodies comprise several leak-tight compartments isolated from one another;

a plurality of floating supports configured to join the plurality of main floating bodies together wherein each floating support of the plurality of floating supports joins one main floating body of the plurality of main floating bodies in one joining point;

a plurality of poles arranged along each of the main floating bodies, each pole having a first end that is joined to a main floating body of the plurality of main floating bodies and a second end opposite to the first end, wherein each of the poles measures at least 5 metres, wherein a first group of the poles are arranged perpendicular to the floating plane, wherein a second group of the poles are arranged forming an angle comprised between 5° and 60° with respect to the floating plane and wherein at least one of the poles of the first group of poles and at least one of the poles of the second group of poles share a point of origin in the floating plane;

a support cover joined to the second ends of the poles, wherein the support cover has a surface of at least 100 square metres;

at least one anchoring element; and

a mooring structure configured to join the main floating bodies and/or the plurality of floating supports with the anchoring element.

2 . The floating device according to claim 1 , further comprising a ship berthing element, comprising

at least two impact structures suitable for receiving the impact of a vessel upon berthing, the at least two impact structures forming an impact plane; and

an access stairway located on a plane other than the impact plane.

3 . The floating device according to claim 1 , wherein the floating supports are contained in the floating plane defined by the main floating bodies and the joining points between each floating support and the main floating body are arranged equidistantly, such that each floating support is attached orthogonally or diagonally to said floating bodies.

4 . The floating device according to claim 1 , wherein the main floating bodies, the floating supports, the poles, and the support cover form a base joined in an integral manner.

5 . The floating device according to claim 1 , further comprising at least ten tilt-adjustable structures, all of them being joined to the support cover, and each of them being configured to receive a solar panel and to regulate the orientation thereof with respect to the support cover.

6 . The floating device according to claim 1 , further comprising a current inverter or transformer element, suitable for receiving energy and conveying it out of the floating device.

7 . The floating device according to claim 1 , wherein the mooring structure comprises a grid of synthetic fibre ropes or chains, in which each vertex of said grid is joined to a main floating body and/or to a floating support by means of a secondary mooring element, such that the grid of synthetic fibre ropes or chains is located in a plane other than the floating plane, wherein the secondary mooring elements are attached to the main floating bodies and/or the plurality of floating supports by galvanized shackles, stainless steel shackles, or swivel shackles.

8 . The floating device according to claim 7 , wherein at least two of the vertexes of the grid are joined to floating buoys.

9 . The floating device according to claim 8 , further comprising main mooring elements connecting the grid with the anchoring elements.

10 . The floating device according to claim 1 , wherein the anchoring element comprises an anchor or a dead weight.

11 . The floating device according to claim 1 , wherein the main floating bodies comprise at least one anchoring element suitable for receiving the main mooring element and/or for coupling a towline.

12 . A floating solar power plant, comprising:

a plurality of floating devices according to claim 1 ;

a plurality of photovoltaic panels coupled to the support cover of each of the floating devices, each photovoltaic panel comprising a current output; and

transverse joining elements configured to join at least two floating devices to one another.

13 . The floating solar power plant according to claim 12 , wherein each floating device comprises at least one current output and the solar power plant comprises a general current output cable which receives the current outputs from each floating device, wherein said general current output cable comprises a floating element.

14 . The floating solar power plant according to claim 13 , further comprising an inverter or transformer element having an input connected to the current outputs of each floating device and having an output connected to the general current output cable.

15 . A method for installing a plurality of photovoltaic panels, which comprises performing the following steps:

considering a wave height;

providing one or more floating devices according to claim 1 , wherein the distance between the floating plane and the support cover is at least equal to the wave height;

providing the plurality of photovoltaic panels;

anchoring the main floating bodies or the floating supports of the floating device(s) at an installation point located in the water by means of the anchoring elements; and

arranging the plurality of photovoltaic panels on the support cover of the floating device(s).