Solar energy milestone: China taps the ocean in breakthrough for industry
The Qingdao-based project is projected to boost offshore power and help cut emissions by 14,000 tonnes annually
Located in Qingdao, Shandong province, the floating solar station builds upon another offshore photovoltaic power generation project launched in late May. Together, they form the largest initiative of its kind by Sinopec, one of China’s biggest state-owned companies.
According to the State Council’s information website, the two projects could generate a combined 16.7 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 14,000 tonnes.
The floating power station, built in coastal waters by Sinopec Qingdao Refining & Chemical, spans about 60,000 square meters and has an installed capacity of 7.5 megawatts. The solar panels rise and fall with the tide, generating energy from the ocean’s surface. Their proximity to the water boosts efficiency by 5 to 8 per cent, according to the site.
“Scientific and technological innovation is the core element in developing new quality productive forces. Green development is the foundation of high-quality development, and new quality productive forces are inherently green productive forces,” Xi said in April last year.
As the world’s largest manufacturer and consumer of photovoltaic products, China dominates the global industry.
According to the National Energy Administration, solar power now accounts for 30 per cent of the country’s total installed capacity, making up nearly half of the global total as of the end of May.