China is advancing its renewable energy initiatives with the launch of an experimental wave-resistant solar platform designed for offshore deployment. Known as the Yellow Sea No. 1, this hexagonal floating structure is part of a broader research program aimed at harnessing solar power from offshore environments. The platform has been transported to the Huaneng Group’s wind farm in the Yellow Sea, located off the southern Shandong Peninsula, where it will undergo a year-long testing phase.
Spanning 1,624 square meters (about 17,500 square feet), the platform hosts 434 photovoltaic (PV) panels. The solar rig is designed to test three different solar technologies and includes four separate capacities to assess which configuration offers the best performance in a marine environment. The platform’s overall height reaches 9 meters (29.5 feet), supported by 64 buoys around the lower structure. These buoys provide stability, while cables attached to the seabed hold the platform in place, allowing it to withstand waves as high as 10 meters.
According to Bi Cheng, project engineer, one of the challenges is preventing saltwater from reducing the efficiency of the solar panels. “When the waves come into contact with the photovoltaic panels, salt crystals will form, which will affect the efficiency of photoelectric conversion,” Cheng explained. He also highlighted the issue of seawater corrosion: “Our entire platform is raised to a higher level above the sea, so that even under sea conditions unseen in 50 years, the waves will not come into contact with our photovoltaic panels.”
The testing area is situated approximately 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) offshore, in waters with a depth of 30 meters (98.4 feet). During the one-year trial, researchers will evaluate the platform’s durability against wind and waves, energy yield efficiency, and maintenance needs. The findings will help shape future offshore solar systems, particularly those that could be integrated with existing offshore wind farms.
This research project is part of a global effort to explore the potential of floating solar technology. NoviOcean, for example, recently tested a hybrid platform that combines wind, wave, and solar energy generation. These efforts reflect a growing interest in offshore renewable energy as countries aim to reduce reliance on land-based installations.
Source: CGTN
