China’s first fixed offshore solar photovoltaic project with full capacity grid connection has officially commenced operations. On May 27, the China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN) announced that the 400-megawatt offshore photovoltaic project in Yantai, Zhaoyuan, has successfully connected to the grid for power generation. This project utilizes a range of innovative products, including self-developed bifacial double-glass offshore photovoltaic modules, establishing a replicable construction process for offshore photovoltaic projects. This advancement is significant for the large-scale development of offshore solar energy in China.
Located in the coastal waters of Laizhou Bay in Zhaoyuan, Shandong Province, the photovoltaic site is situated 2 kilometers from the nearest coastline and 6.2 kilometers from the furthest point. The total sea area used is 512.7 hectares, and the project connects to a 220-kilovolt onshore substation through 16 sets of 35-kilovolt collection lines.
The project broke ground on December 26, 2023, in an area with water depths ranging from 8.5 to 11 meters, making it the deepest project among the first ten offshore photovoltaic project sites selected through competitive allocation in Shandong Province. Zhang Zhiwu, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of CGN New Energy Holdings Co., Ltd., noted that the project integrates green concepts throughout its entire lifecycle. It is expected to generate an average annual output of 694 million kilowatt-hours, equivalent to a reduction of approximately 208,700 tons of standard coal consumption and a decrease in carbon dioxide emissions by about 535,800 tons, which is comparable to afforestation over 1,562 hectares. This demonstrates significant ecological and economic benefits.
Meng Fanzhi, Deputy Director and a member of the Party Leadership Group of the Shandong Provincial Energy Bureau, emphasized the province’s strong commitment to developing new and renewable energy sources. The focus is on comprehensive planning and advancing both offshore and onshore clean energy projects to create a green and low-carbon energy transition demonstration area. The full capacity grid connection of the 400-megawatt offshore photovoltaic project in Zhaoyuan is another practical step in Shandong’s strategy to harness marine resources, effectively promoting the transformation and upgrading of the regional energy structure. This initiative aims to accelerate the establishment of a diverse and complementary energy supply system and to contribute to the development of a modern marine economy.
Li Guangming, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and General Manager of CGN New Energy Holdings Co., Ltd., stated that CGN is committed to innovation-driven development. The team has collaborated with industry partners to address ocean environment adaptation technologies. Significant achievements have been made in the research and application of photovoltaic modules, support unit technology design, and offshore piling techniques.
The marine environment poses unique challenges, such as high salinity, humidity, wind loads, and ocean currents, which demand high standards for material corrosion resistance, structural characteristics, and system stability. In response, CGN has developed the first domestically produced bifacial double-glass N-type heterojunction crystalline silicon modules suitable for marine environments, achieving a photoelectric conversion efficiency of 22.86% and a bifacial factor exceeding 85%. Through this development, CGN has secured seven patents, including for “nanostructured fully passivated contact crystalline silicon heterojunction bifacial solar cells and their manufacturing methods,” which significantly advance the technology of offshore photovoltaic modules.
Moreover, CGN has established a comprehensive construction process system for offshore photovoltaic projects during this project, accumulating systematic practical experience for similar projects nationwide. The project encompasses numerous key scientific and technological innovations, having already secured over 70 patents, including more than 30 invention patents, and published four SCI papers. CGN plans to systematically summarize and promote its technological standards and management experiences, facilitating collaborative development of the offshore photovoltaic industry across the country through industry exchanges and sharing.
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