On July 2, China Petrochemical Corporation (Sinopec) announced the commissioning of China’s first industrial-scale offshore floating photovoltaic (PV) project.
Built in a seawater environment, the project represents a significant breakthrough in floating solar technology for coastal and shallow-sea regions. Combined with a previously launched pile-based floating PV system, it forms Sinopec’s largest water-surface solar power station to date.
The entire installation is expected to generate 16.7 million kWh of green electricity annually, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 14,000 tons — equivalent to planting 750,000 trees — and sets a vital example for future offshore PV development.
Dual land-use model unlocks new potential for marine PV
The PV system at Sinopec Qingdao Refining & Chemical Co., Ltd. (QRC)’s integrated hydrogen production, research, and refueling demonstration park spans an area of approximately 60,000 square meters with an installed capacity of 7.5 MW. Using a unique fully floating PV design that connects to the sea, it pioneers a new “dual-use” model for ocean surface and energy generation.
Engineered to adapt to tidal variations, the solar panels float and adjust to sea level changes, maintaining a close distance to the water surface — only a fraction of traditional pile-mounted systems. This innovative design maximizes the cooling effect of seawater, increasing power generation efficiency by 5 to 8 percent.
Three key innovations solve industrial PV challenges in seawater
Operating solar equipment in a full-seawater environment presents technical challenges such as salt corrosion, marine biofouling, and tidal fluctuations. To address these, Sinopec collaborated with leading domestic material science and flotation technology firms, delivering three major innovations: custom anti-corrosion and anti-fouling floats and brackets resistant to salt spray and barnacle adhesion; a new anchoring system capable of withstanding Category 13 typhoons and 3.5-meter tidal fluctuations, reducing capital costs by around 10 percent compared to pile-based systems; and integrated inspection walkways designed close to PV panels and cables, significantly improving safety and reducing operations and maintenance costs.
These breakthroughs offer a standardized solution for PV deployment in coastal and shallow-sea zones and are expected to further lower costs for new energy development.
Pioneering the integration of solar power and green hydrogen
The floating PV installation completes a critical link in the company’s new energy value chain, enabling a model where solar power generates green electricity, which in turn produces green hydrogen.
This integrated system lays a solid foundation for low-carbon refining and green hydrogen transportation. QRC plans to expand the floating PV capacity by an additional 23 MW, further enhancing its clean energy supply capabilities.
Sinopec accelerates clean energy deployment
In recent years, Sinopec has been accelerating the construction of a clean and low-carbon energy supply system to foster new growth drivers for high-quality development. The company is advancing a green and clean development strategy with a strong focus on ecological protection, green transformation, and low-carbon operations. As part of this effort, Sinopec has launched an action to build around 10,000 PV-powered service stations by 2027.
Sinopec has also become China’s largest geothermal energy developer, with a heating capacity of 120 million square meters. It has established a complete hydrogen industry chain, including the launch of China’s first 10,000-ton photovoltaic green hydrogen demonstration project. In addition, the company has built 144 hydrogen refueling stations, making it the world’s largest hydrogen refueling operator.
In 2024, Sinopec supplied the equivalent of over 5.8 million tons of standard coal in clean energy, accelerating the integration of traditional oil and gas with new energy solutions.
(Executive editor: Cui Feng)
