Innovative Floating Solar Power Project by Chenya Energy
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The ocean presents a groundbreaking opportunity for the rapidly expanding solar energy sector. Recent studies reveal that floating solar farms off the coast of Taiwan outperform land-based solar farms in terms of electricity generation and profitability.
Taiwan, comparable in size to the Netherlands, has limited open land due to its mountainous terrain and a population of 5 million. To address this, Chenya Energy developed a 181 MW offshore floating photovoltaic (OFPV) project, utilizing 1.8 square kilometers of water in a protected bay within an industrial park.
A year earlier, Taiwan Power Company had established a 100-megawatt land-based solar photovoltaic (LPV) project on 1.4 square kilometers nearby, providing an excellent comparison for researchers, excluding the additional 81 megawatts from the floating solar farm.
According to the research, floating solar technology generates 12% more electricity compared to traditional land-based systems. Although operating and maintenance costs are somewhat elevated, the net returns stand at 11% for OFPV versus 8% for LPV.
Lead author Qingfeng Chen from the National Taipei University of Technology notes, “While installing solar systems at sea is more complex than on land, the carbon and emissions reductions from OFPV make it a superior choice compared to LPV.”
To date, over 1,100 floating solar setups have been launched, predominantly in lakes and reservoirs across China and other densely populated Asian countries. The primary benefit is that it does not compete with land that could be used for agriculture or development, while also achieving up to 20% more energy than land-based systems—though results can vary significantly by location.
This enhanced performance is attributed to the cooler temperatures—typically 2-3 °C lower on water than on land— which help mitigate efficiency losses in solar panels. The strong winds over large bodies of water further contribute to this cooling effect.
Chen states, “Heat is the main enemy.” Even in oceanic environments—which are cooler than lakes and reservoirs—floating solar generation continues to provide substantial electricity outputs. However, construction remains challenging, and only a limited number of projects have been implemented.
The largest such project is in China, comprising a 1-gigawatt system in shallow waters off Shandong province. Floating solar platforms are anchored to the seabed, and in Taiwan, cells are directly placed on the ocean floor during low tide.
Installation costs for floating systems can be approximately 30% higher than land-based setups, as they have to endure moisture, rust, salt, and wave action. Additional maintenance is required to mitigate salt and debris buildup, with employees needing to clean the solar panels and remove any debris.
Despite these challenges, the higher power output significantly offsets the initial investment over the project’s lifespan. Chen’s study did not factor in long-term wear from waves and storms, which may pose increased risks for offshore wind farms, which seek to integrate floating solar for energy production when wind currents weaken.
Research published last year indicated that adequately covering just 1% of ocean surfaces with wind and solar systems could satisfy nearly 30% of global electricity demands by 2050.
In recent years, German and Dutch companies have tested offshore solar projects around 12 kilometers from the Netherlands’ coastline. A pilot project survived waves reaching up to 10 meters since 2019. However, another floating solar installation near the Hollandse Kust Noord wind farm faced operational issues due to a faulty electrical connector, prompting immediate action from Shell and Eneko to remove it last year.
Another consideration is the ecological impact of floating PV systems, which can reduce oxygen and light in the water, potentially affecting aquatic organisms like phytoplankton and seaweed. Vincent Bax, a researcher at HZ University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands, cautions that while offshore deployment could face challenges from waves and weather, the proximity to shore may negatively impact biodiversity.
Nevertheless, he asserts that “Considering its lower impact on terrestrial ecosystems, this technology has significant potential.”
Given the technical difficulties involved in offshore solar energy production, Chen predicts a strong focus in growth toward sun-rich islands with limited offshore wind resources, including Taiwan, Japan, Indonesia, and nations in the Caribbean.
“Strategic location is pivotal,” he concludes.
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Source: www.newscientist.com
