China Floats Solar to Green Beijing

• China could power up to 863GW of green energy with floating solar, allowing it to bring solar power to regions where land is limited. With the potential to occupy 7,117 square kilometres less land than traditional PV, floating solar offers higher power outputs and a more economic solution.

According to a new study, China could develop up to 863GW of floating solar to bring more green energy to areas like Beijing where land is limited. Floating solar offers a number of advantages over land-based PV, such as higher power output due to the cooling effect of water bodies, less dust accumulation and a better economic performance. The potential capacity for floating solar in China is 706GW-863GW, which would otherwise occupy 7,117 square kilometres of land. China already has 392GW of solar capacity installed and is expected to top 500GW by the end of 2020. The researchers also found that for several well-developed provinces, the potential installed capacity for floating solar is more than ten times that of the existing installed capacity. The design and implementation of such projects is expected to be more cost-effective than land-based PV in certain areas.

What Is China's Potential for Floating Solar?

• China has a potential of 863GW of floating solar power, which would otherwise occupy 7,117 square kilometres of land.
• Floating solar offers a number of advantages over land-based PV such as higher power output due to the cooling effect of water bodies, less dust accumulation and a better economic performance.
• China is already in the process of reaching 500GW of installed solar capacity by the end of 2020, and for certain well-developed provinces, the potential installed capacity for floating solar is more than ten times that of the existing installed capacity.
• Floating solar projects are expected to be more cost-effective in certain areas than land-based PV.
• The design and implementation of such projects need to take into account technical, environmental and economic aspects to make them feasible.