North Sea Buoy II, an automatic measuring buoy of the Marine Environmental Monitoring Network in Northern and Baltic Sea of the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency, Hamburg, is located about 120 km northwest of the island Helgoland.
It serves, together with other stations, as a monotoring of the marine environment. On the station is recorded: Water temperature, salt and oxygen content, flow at different depths and the swell. Additionally meteorological parameters are measured. Such as air temperature, wind speed and direction as well as air pressure and humidity. All values are transmitted via satellite and are available in real time for further processing.
The station is equipped with solar panels and a wind generator for Energy supply. The solar power is not enough to completely dispense with the use of the diesel generator. With the solar modules, however, the refueling cycle could be changed from approx. every 5 months to only once a year.
At other stations, Fehmarn-Belt Station in the Baltic Sea, there is enough solar power available. There was no engine start in the winter of 2017/2018. The North Sea buoy 3 is likely to run about 90% with solar power. In summer of 100% and in winter time with occasional engine support.

Text: Dr. Detlev Machoczek, Bundesamt fuer Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie (BSH)
Photos were provided by: Bundesamt fuer Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie (BSH)