China has achieved a milestone in renewable energy by connecting the world’s first 1-gigawatt (GW) offshore solar power project to the electrical grid. This step is seen as a significant advancement in solar energy technology and serves as a model for the expansion of offshore solar projects worldwide.
No Bigger Project Exists
Located in the offshore area near Dongying, Shandong Province, this project is recognized as the world’s largest offshore solar power system. It was developed by Guohua Energy Investment Co., a subsidiary of the state-backed CHN Energy. Company officials stated that this project sets a precedent for future large-scale offshore photovoltaic (PV) initiatives.
Covering approximately 1,223 hectares and featuring a total installed capacity of 1 gigawatt, the project stands out with its innovative engineering techniques. As a global first, it employs large-scale steel frame platform pile technology. A total of 2,934 PV platforms were constructed using steel-framed platforms anchored to fixed pile foundations offshore. Each platform measures 60 meters in length and 35 meters in width.
Another groundbreaking aspect of this project is China’s first implementation of 66-kilovolt offshore-to-land long-distance transmission lines in the photovoltaic industry. This approach enhances transmission capacity, reduces costs, and maximizes energy efficiency.
Once fully operational, the project will generate 1.78 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually—enough to meet the yearly energy needs of approximately 2.67 million people. Officials estimate that this initiative will save 503,800 tons of coal per year while preventing 1.3447 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Industry experts predict that China’s offshore PV capacity will exceed 60 GW by 2027, making this project a small but crucial step toward that goal.
Currently, the largest operational facility of this kind is located in Taiwan, with a capacity of 373 MW.
Source: donanimhaber.com
