China has just put into operation a 7,5 MW floating solar power plant offshore. The project was developed by China. PetroLeum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec), in partnership with the government of Shandong province and the municipality of Qingdao.
The structure occupies an area of approximately 60.000 m2 in a coastal area directly connected to the sea. The plant is expected to generate 16,7 million kWh of clean electricity per year, enough to avoid the emission of around 14 thousand tons of carbon annually.
Unlike traditional floating solar plants in calm waters, with lakes or reservoirs, the project operates in a marine environment, subject to tidal variations of up to 3,5 meters, salinity and intense winds.
To overcome these challenges, the company developed three main technological solutions:
- Marine corrosion and fouling resistant floats;
- Underwater anchoring system capable of withstanding winds of up to 13 levels on the Beaufort scale;
- Optimized design for maintenance, with simplified inspection of panels and cables close to the water surface.
Floating solar power expansion advances in Billings Reservoir
The innovative structure also incorporates a system that allows the panels to adjust to tidal elevations, maintaining a distance of just one tenth of that of conventional pile structures from the water.
This natural cooling improves the generation efficiency between 5% and 8%, reducing operating and maintenance costs. The next steps include expanding installed capacity to 23 MW.
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