Fresh images emerge of China's bold new energy project out at sea: 'World-first'
The impressive new project is located about eight kilometres off the coast of the city of Dongying in the Shandong province.
Incredible images have emerged of China's bold new offshore solar farm — the world’s first and largest of its kind.
China's state-owned CHN Energy has begun power generation at a 1 gigawatt (GW) offshore floating solar park, according to a statement on the company's website on Wednesday. The impressive new project is located about eight kilometres off the coast of the city of Dongying in the Shandong province, about four hours south of Beijing.
Developed by subsidiary Guohua Energy Investment Co, the park can generate 1.78 billion kilowatt-hours of power each year, that can power the consumption of 2.6 million urban residents, according to the Chinese government.
Offshore solar farms are large solar power installations erected on bodies of water, typically in oceans or seas. They're designed to capture sunlight over open water, where there is often more available space and completely uninterrupted sunlight.
How do offshore solar farms work?
Offshore solar farms work by using photovoltaic panels mounted on floating platforms to harness the sun's energy and convert it into electricity. A major benefit of the process is the fact it frees up vital space on land, a huge bonus in densely populated countries like China.
Offshore farms can also reduce the impact on land-based ecosystems as they avoid deforestation and land clearing. However, they also face challenges, including the need for robust structures to withstand extreme marine conditions, higher maintenance costs due to saltwater corrosion, and the potential environmental impact on marine life.
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Some countries are experimenting with offshore solar farms as part of their renewable energy strategies. For example, the Netherlands and Singapore are pioneering offshore floating solar technologies, while other countries are exploring similar projects to meet renewable energy goals.
In May, state-owned China National Nuclear Corp started construction on a 2GW offshore solar plant near the coast of eastern Jiangsu province, the Global Times reported. It is located in the area earmarked for the warm water discharge from the Tianwan nuclear plant.
with Reuters
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