China's first pile-foundation fixed offshore solar power project connects to grid

China has fully connected its first pile-foundation fixed offshore photovoltaic solar power project to the grid, marking a significant advancement in the country's pursuit of large-scale renewable energy development in marine environments.

The 400-megawatt (MW) Yantai Zhaoyuan offshore solar farm, located in the Laizhou Bay in Shandong province, has successfully commenced full-capacity power generation, project developer China General Nuclear Power Corp (CGN) said on Tuesday.

The project utilized a range of domestically developed innovative products, including specialized offshore solar modules, which CGN said are crucial for the future large-scale deployment of offshore solar power in China.

Situated between 2 kilometers and 6.2 kilometers from the coastline, the solar farm kicked off construction in 2023, in water depths ranging from 8.5 to 11 meters.

CGN estimates that the project will generate an average of 694 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity annually. This output is equivalent to reducing standard coal consumption by approximately 208,700 metric tons and cutting carbon dioxide emissions by about 535,800 tons per year.

Shandong province has been actively promoting the development of new and renewable energy sources, adopting a coordinated land-sea approach to accelerate the construction of large-scale clean energy bases and establish itself as a demonstration zone for green and low-carbon energy transition.

The marine environment presents unique challenges for solar power infrastructure, including high salt spray, high humidity, strong winds, and the impact of ocean currents. These conditions place stringent demands on the corrosion resistance of materials, structural integrity, and overall system stability of the solar components.

The successful grid connection of the Yantai Zhaoyuan project demonstrates China's growing technical prowess and ambition in harnessing offshore renewable energy resources beyond wind power, it said.