Sinopec has commissioned a 7.5 MW offshore floating solar project in full seawater conditions in China.
Sinopec has started exploiting China’s first commercial floating offshore solar factory. It developed the 7.5 MW facility with support from the province of Shandong and the municipality of Qingdao.
The project, built in a complete seawater environment, comprises 60,000 square meters and is expected to generate 16.7 million kWh of electricity per year, while the carbon emissions are reduced by 14,000 tons.
The installation is the largest floating PV system from Sinopec so far and integrates an earlier floating PV factory. The design of the system ensures that panels rise and fall with tidal movement, thereby maintaining minimal clearance of the water to maximize the cooling effect and to stimulate the efficiency of the generation by 5% to 8%.
Sinopec said that the project has three important innovations: salt-resistant materials to reduce corrosion and pollution of marine, a mooring system designed to reduce level 13 wind speeds and 3.5-meter tidal exchanges and a low-profile inspection path that reduces operations and maintenance costs.
“Sinopec conquered the challenges of applying PV technology in seawater environments through three important innovations,” the company said in a statement. It pointed to corrosion -resistant components, a storm -resilient anchoring system and improved maintenance access as important design characteristics that save costs and improve reliability.
The project is part of Sinopec’s wider strategy to integrate renewable electricity and hydrogen. It follows the earlier milestones of the company, including the first “carbon neutral” hydrogen filling station of the land and a large -scale production facility for seawater hydrogen.
Sinopec said it is planning to expand the floating offshore platform to 23 MW to strengthen its supply chain for renewable energy. In 2023, the company launched the world’s largest solar-hydrogen factory in Xinjiang, with the aim of producing 20,000 tons of green hydrogen annually with the help of solar energy electrolysis.
Last week the Chinese GCL system integration unveiled a 480 W offshore floating solar module designed for saltwater use, with IP68 waterproofing, salt-resistant materials and flexible membrane assembly. The module, developed with ocean sun, focuses on high efficiency and long -term performance in the conditions of the entire sea.
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