China has unveiled its first offshore floating solar power project operating entirely in a seawater environment in Qingdao City, eastern Shandong Province. Covering an area of about 60,000 square meters with an installed capacity of 7.5 megawatts, the project is expected to generate 16.7 million kilowatt-hours of green electricity annually.
The groundbreaking design allows photovoltaic panels to float and move with the tides, maintaining a minimal gap between the panels and the water surface—only about one-tenth of that in traditional structures. This optimizes seawater cooling, boosting energy conversion efficiency by 5 to 8 percent.
To tackle challenges like marine corrosion, biofouling, and tidal fluctuations, the research and development team developed special anti-corrosion floats and barnacle-resistant supports. A robust underwater anchoring system has also been engineered to withstand winds up to Force 13 and adapt to tidal ranges of up to 3.5 meters. These advancements reduce capital investment by around 10 percent compared to conventional installations.
The project is set to serve as a standardized model for future solar developments in coastal and shallow marine environments, supporting China’s broader push toward lower-cost renewable energy.
