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.
