China Launches Record-Breaking 1 GW Offshore Solar Farm
China has officially reached a new milestone in renewable energy with the full commissioning of the HG14 offshore PV project. Located off the coast of Dongying in Shandong Province, this facility is now the largest open-sea solar plant in commercial operation globally.
Developed by Guohua Investment (a subsidiary of the state-owned CHN Energy), the project represents a massive leap in "three-dimensional" marine space utilization.
Engineering and Infrastructure
The HG14 plant is a feat of maritime engineering, specifically designed to withstand the harsh conditions of the northern Chinese coast, including heavy winds and seasonal sea ice.
Scale: The facility spans approximately 1,223 hectares of shallow water (1–4 meters deep), located about 8 kilometers from the shoreline.
Foundation: It utilizes a fixed-pile design consisting of 2,934 massive steel platforms supported by over 11,000 piles.
Solar Technology: The array features 2.3 million n-type bifacial modules, each producing 710 W. These are tilted at 15 degrees to maximize sun exposure and benefit from sea-surface reflectivity.
Efficiency Boost: Due to cooler maritime temperatures and high albedo (reflectivity) from the water, these panels are 5% to 15% more efficient than their land-based counterparts.
Power Transmission and Storage
To ensure the energy reaches the grid reliably, the project incorporates advanced transmission and storage solutions:
Smart Grid Connection: Power travels through 66 kV subsea cables to an onshore 220 kV substation. This high-capacity design reportedly boosted transmission efficiency by 20% while cutting costs by 15%.
Energy Storage: A co-located 100 MW/200 MWh battery system helps balance the power supply, ensuring the grid remains stable even when the sun isn't shining.
Environmental and Economic Impact
The project, which required an investment of roughly $1.73 billion (CNY 8.1 billion), serves as a dual-purpose hub for energy and food production.
Metric | Impact Value |
Annual Generation | ~1.78 TWh (Terawatt-hours) |
Local Demand Met | ~60% of Kenli District's power |
CO₂ Emissions Avoided | 1.34 million tons per year |
Coal Savings | Over 500,000 tonnes annually |
The "PV + Aquaculture" Model
A standout feature of the HG14 project is its "PV-above, farming-below" strategy. By raising the solar platforms on piles, the space underneath remains available for aquaculture. This allows for fish and shellfish farming beneath the panels, creating a secondary revenue stream and maximizing the economic value of the sea territory.
