- All 930 offshore solar platforms have been installed on the 1,000 MW Guohua Investment Shandong HG14 project.
- The project is expected to generate 1.78 billion kilowatt hours annually using advanced offshore construction and monitoring systems.
The Guohua Investment Shandong HG14 Offshore Photovoltaic Project, built by China State Construction Engineering Corporation, has reached a major construction milestone with the completion of all 930 photovoltaic platform installations. The project is now close to full grid connection across all sub arrays and is recognised as the world’s first offshore solar project to reach the gigawatt scale.
Located in the eastern waters off Kenli District in Dongying City, Shandong Province, the project has a planned installed capacity of 1,000 megawatts. Once fully operational, it is expected to generate approximately 1.78 billion kilowatt hours of electricity per year, enough to meet the annual power demand of around 2.67 million urban residents.
Each offshore platform measures 60 metres by 35 metres, equivalent to roughly five standard basketball courts. The platforms use bifacial double glass photovoltaic modules that capture both direct sunlight and reflected light from the sea surface, improving overall energy yield in the marine environment.
Image credit: CSCEC
The structures are supported by a steel pipe pile and steel truss system, with each platform weighing about 85 tonnes. The steel piles are designed for a service life exceeding 30 years and can withstand wind speeds equivalent to Level 11 conditions, making them suitable for long term offshore deployment.
To support construction at scale, the project has deployed China’s first integrated technical system for large scale offshore photovoltaic development. This includes an intelligent construction equipment cluster equipped with high precision positioning systems and automated levelling and pile driving technology. The system allows one touch levelling and enables the simultaneous installation of four steel pipe piles per platform. To date, 3,720 piles have been successfully driven.
In parallel, an intelligent supervision platform has been established, supported by smart tide, wind and wave forecasting systems. These digital tools are designed to ensure safe, efficient and stable operations throughout construction and into the operational phase.
The project highlights the growing potential of offshore solar as a complement to offshore wind and other marine based renewable energy solutions, offering valuable lessons for coastal and shallow water markets globally, including emerging opportunities across Africa’s coastal regions.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
