China's first MW-level offshore PV farm successfully connected to grid

China

China's first MW-level offshore PV farm successfully connected to grid

2024-11-13 15:13 Last Updated At：17:27

China’s first million-kilowatt level offshore photovoltaic project was successfully connected to the national power grid, according to China Energy on Wednesday.

Located in the offshore area eight kilometers from Dongying City of Shandong Province, the one-million-kilowatt offshore photovoltaic project has seen the completion of the first 300 photovoltaic platforms, arranged in five rows extending towards the deep sea. Each platform measures 60 meters in length and 35 meters in width, equivalent to the size of five standard basketball courts. The entire project will require the installation of 2,934 such photovoltaic platforms.

This project is currently the largest open-sea offshore photovoltaic project in China, covering an area of approximately 1,223 hectares. It is the first project to apply 66-kilovolt undersea cables and long-distance land cables to offer greater transmission capacity at lower costs.

"Once fully connected to the grid, the annual power generation is estimated to reach 1.78 billion kilowatt-hours, roughly meeting the annual electricity consumption of 2.67 million urban residents in China, saving approximately 503,800 tons of standard coal and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 1.347 million tons," said Wang Lin, project manager of Shandong Kenli Project.

In contrast to traditional land-based photovoltaic farms where solar panels are typically assembled on-site, offshore photovoltaic farms require a unique approach. The initial assembly phase for offshore installations begins on land. Here, workers meticulously assemble both the solar panels and their supporting structures before transporting the entire unit to the site using tugboats. Once on location, the solar panels are then carefully lifted and mounted onto four pre-installed steel piles, ensuring the stability and functionality of the offshore photovoltaic array.

While only two meters of the steel piles are above the water surface, approximately 23 meters are submerged below, with 17 meters anchored into the seabed. The piles are coated with a special anti-corrosion primer, ensuring a lifespan of over 30 years. Moreover, the platform can withstand strong winds and sea ice as thick as 25 centimeters.

All the photovoltaic panels in this project face south, with a precisely calibrated tilt angle of 15 degrees. This angle maximizes the panels' exposure to sunlight. These double-sided panels not only capture direct sunlight from above but also utilize light reflected from the sea surface. This design enhances the power generation of each panel by around three percent.

Cross-border haze lingers over Malaysia as clearing timeline remains uncertain

Malaysia has been grappling with sustained cross-border haze for weeks -- despite repeated rainfall, the polluted air shrouding Kuala Lumpur shows little sign of dispersing, with the national weather agency cautioning that a clear timeline for relief remains elusive.

In the capital, air quality readings have held at unhealthy levels for a fortnight, with neighboring districts faring no better as passing showers leave the smog largely intact.

"The rain that is occurring in Malaysia is not going to help in total to reduce the haze because the source is still there so the wind keeps on coming from that direction to our country," said Ambun Dindang, the deputy director general of the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MET Malaysia).

That assessment from the country's weather agency points across the border, where forest and land fires have been burning in multiple parts of Indonesia in recent weeks, sending smoke drifting into neighboring countries. The persistent haze has since taken a toll on a range of industries in Kuala Lumpur.

Open-air food stalls are a hallmark of the city, but the hazy weather has kept diners indoors, leaving many such businesses noticeably quiet.

"Because we're outdoors, some customers and tourists don't want to sit outside. [Due to the haze] our customer traffic also decreases," said a local restaurant operator.

Daily life is bearing the strain beyond the food business as well, from school scheduling to commutes. Local governments and schools must adjust class arrangements based on official forecasts, and whether classes will be suspended has become parents' top concern, with some schools already closed as the pollution persists.

Authorities have reminded the public to monitor official air quality bulletins and weather updates, and to adjust their outdoor plans accordingly.

As to when the haze might finally lift, MET Malaysia says no definitive timeline can yet be offered, with any improvement contingent on a shift in wind direction.