A world first! Offshore hybrid energy system
China has installed the world’s first offshore solar power system that works in conjunction with an offshore wind turbine.
It is a fact that China is one of the world’s leading countries in renewable energy. The country, which is very advantageous in producing both wind and solar energy, is now starting to produce energy on the sea, going beyond its own territory.
A hybrid energy system is used on the sea for the first time
The country recently launched the world’s largest offshore wind farm project and deployed the world’s first offshore hybrid power plant. China’s state-owned utility, State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC), has installed the world’s first offshore solar power system that works in tandem with an offshore wind turbine.
SPIC is one of China’s five largest electric utility companies and the world’s largest photovoltaic power generation organization. The project uses patented floating solar technology from Norway-based Ocean Sun. The prototype is located off the coast of Haiyang in eastern China.
Two floating solar panels can generate a total of 0.5 megawatts of energy. Connected to a transformer in a wind turbine owned by SPIC, the panels transmit electricity to the wind turbine’s power grid via an undersea cable.
If the pilot project is successful, a 20 MW floating wind-solar farm is planned to be built by 2023. Ocean Sun licensed its proprietary floating solar technology for the project in July. This project is described as the first true offshore solar panel.
The wind-solar hybrid system potentially has a significant advantage in energy production. A significant amount of energy is generated by the panels during peak solar hours, while offshore wind turbines typically generate most of their power in the afternoon and evening. This joint project between China and Norway is likely to provide optimal energy production.