Jiangsu's largest floating solar power base to begin construction

Technicians inspect the solar panels. [Photo by Li Xiang/Xinhua]

The crisscrossing waterways in Baoying, Jiangsu province have helped the little known county make itself known as a place with great photovoltaic (PV) possibilities. 

The county was listed by the National Energy Administration in late 2017 as a pilot location for the establishment of a floating PV power generation base. It will be the largest of its kind in Jiangsu, with an intended capacity of 2.08 gigawatts. 

The project will cost a total of 15 billion yuan ($2.4 billion), and construction will occur in three phases. 

The first phase, with a budget of 4 billion yuan, will see the installation of a 500 megawatt grid by the end of 2018. 

Jiangsu's official news outlet xhby.net said in a report on March 5 that the project is now moving forward smoothly and investors are currently making on-the-spot surveys. Construction will start soon. 

According to the Baoying local government, the project will make use of an integrated water area of 16,000 mu (1,067 hectares), which will be used to both generate power and to aid the local fishery industry. The water area is mostly located in the villages and towns of Liubao, Sheyang Lake and Guangyang Lake. 

The local government also said that the project, once in operation, will have an annual output of 2 billion yuan and be taxed 300 million yuan. 

Baoying's project reflects the increasing popularity of floating solar power plants across the globe. 

PV-Tech.org, a UK-based solar PV information portal, said that "The floating mode can reduce water evaporation in many applications, while the cooler ambient air, notably in hot and humid environments, limits the solar panel's exposure to the 'temperature coefficient' that results in performance degradation."

The floating solar power plants in Baoying, Jiangsu province. [Photo by Li Xiang/Xinhua]

The floating solar power plants in Baoying, Jiangsu province. [Photo by Li Xiang/Xinhua]