China’s growing photovoltaic industry recognizes its global potential
On a huge salt pan in the city of Yinggehai, located in Ledong Li Autonomous County in southern China’s Hainan Province, a significant installation of 434,000 photovoltaic (PV) panels now provides a continuous stream of clean energy.
As the largest centralized PV base in Hainan, the newly completed facility can generate approximately 720 million kilowatt hours of clean energy annually. This output equates to a saving of 288,000 tonnes of standard coal and a reduction in CO2 emissions of 715,000 tonnes per year.
“The salt pan area is exceptionally rich in solar energy resources, with an annual evaporation rate twice that of rainfall, making it very valuable for solar energy development,” said Wang Jiaping, project manager of Hainan Holdings Energy Co Ltd.
Wang also highlighted the complexity of building a PV power plant on a salt pan. The silt layer in the area reaches a depth of 7 to 8 meters, requiring precision in construction management to keep pipe pile errors within two centimeters. To meet these challenges, engineers used satellite positioning and drone measurements to navigate more than 60 critical technologies, including water operations and intelligent inspections.
The Chinese mainland coastline, which extends for approximately 18,000 kilometers, offers enormous potential for the development of offshore PV systems. Experts claim that offshore PV installations offer several advantages over traditional land-based systems.
“PV power generation requires significant land space, and the available land for PV development is becoming increasingly scarce,” said Cui Lin, Deputy Secretary General of the Special Committee on Offshore Photovoltaic Systems, China Photovoltaic Industry Association. “Offshore PV, on the other hand, offers a broader range of applications for larger-scale applications.”
Offshore PV modules, which are placed close to or partially submerged in seawater, benefit from improved cooling and heat dissipation, leading to improved energy generation efficiency, Cui added.
Coastal areas across China are also adopting offshore PV projects. More than 30,000 pipe piles for PV panels have been installed in seawater in East China’s Fujian province as part of the region’s first offshore PV project. Once operational, this project will generate an average of 300 million kilowatt hours of clean electricity annually, saving 90,200 tons of standard coal annually.
In addition, another offshore PV project is under construction in Lianyungang, East China’s Jiangsu province. The China National Nuclear Corporation’s 2 million kW PV demonstration project integrates PV with nuclear power, effectively reducing negative environmental impacts on marine ecosystems while providing more clean energy to nearby cities.
Off the coast of Haiyang, in East China’s Shandong province, the country’s first fixed offshore PV demonstration project is operating smoothly in waters with an average depth of 7 meters. These offshore PV stations are assembled on land before being transported offshore and installed underwater, requiring high efficiency to save costs and the use of strong, crack-resistant components.
As China continues to expand its renewable energy infrastructure, such projects are setting new standards for clean energy production. These efforts, focused on innovation, efficiency and environmental protection, represent crucial steps towards a more sustainable and energy-secure future.
In September 2023, the National Energy Administration proposed support for offshore pilot projects in regions with favorable solar energy resources and suitable construction conditions, such as salt pans.
China is also promoting the integration of solar photovoltaics with other industries. A white paper released last month encouraged the joint development of PV projects and marine aquaculture.
Looking ahead, offshore PV could be combined with offshore wind power, marine livestock farming, seawater desalination and offshore hydrogen production, sharing space and resources to achieve large-scale offshore clean energy development, Cui said.
However, challenges remain. Anti-corrosion measures and preventing marine organisms from adhering to equipment are major hurdles, Cui noted.
“In addition, intelligent operation and maintenance is a technical bottleneck after large-scale offshore deployment, as offshore installations cannot be easily dismantled and replaced like those on land,” he added.
Experts are urging companies to invest in research and development, promote technological innovation and increase the competitiveness of the offshore PV industry.
