Depth Analysis of the Current Situation of Floating Photovoltaic Solutions
Driven by the global energy transition and the "dual carbon" goal, floating photovoltaic solutions, as an innovative model combining photovoltaic power generation with aquatic resources, is moving from the technology verification stage to large-scale application. It breaks through land resource limitations by installing photovoltaic modules in water bodies such as reservoirs, lakes, and oceans, while utilizing the cooling effect of water bodies to improve power generation efficiency, becoming an important branch of the clean energy field. Zhongyan Puhua Industry Research Institute pointed out that floating photovoltaics is not only a key path to solve the shortage of land resources, but also builds a three-dimensional development system of "water power generation, underwater ecological restoration, and multi-industries integration on the water surface" through technological iteration and policy support.
Industry Status: collaborative evolution of technology, market, and policy
1. Technological breakthrough: system innovation from single power generation to ecological integration
The core of floating photovoltaic solutions lies in the deep integration of photovoltaic modules with floating platforms on water, which requires it to meet the triple requirements of power generation efficiency, structural stability, and ecological adaptability. Currently, technological breakthroughs are mainly reflected in three directions.
Firstly, upgrading the floating material and anchoring system. Traditional floating bodies use high-density polyethylene (HDPE), which has poor weather resistance and weak wind and wave resistance. In recent years, new composite materials such as fiberglass reinforced plastic and concrete floats have gradually replaced HDPE, improving its UV resistance and corrosion resistance by more than 30%, and extending its service life to 25 years. The anchoring system has evolved from fixed to dynamically adjustable. For example, the "Intelligent Tension Anchor" developed by China Electric Power Construction can monitor wind and wave data in real time through sensors, automatically adjust the tension of the anchor chain, and ensure the stable operation of the floating platform under 5-level waves.
Secondly, optimization of photovoltaic module efficiency and adaptability. The water surface environment places higher demands on photovoltaic modules: high temperature leads to efficiency degradation, humidity accelerates material aging, and wave impact increases mechanical stress. To this end, the industry has developed specialized components: double-sided power generation components can use reflected light from the water surface to increase power generation by 5% to 10%. Flexible components reduce wind resistance and increase impact resistance by 40% by reducing thickness (from 3.2mm to 1.5mm). The self-cleaning coating technology reduces the dust adhesion rate on the surface of components by 60%, reducing the cost of manual cleaning.
Thirdly, integration of ecological restoration technologies. The floating photovoltaic solution suppresses algae growth by blocking sunlight, reduce water surface evaporation (saving up to 3 million tons/square kilometer of water annually), and provide shade for fish, improving aquatic ecology. For example, the Sihong Photovoltaic Pioneer Base in Jiangsu has increased dissolved oxygen content in water by 15% and fish production by 20% through the "photovoltaic+ fishery" model.
The "2024-2029 Analysis Report on Investment Potential and Development Prospects of China's Floating Photovoltaic Industry" by the China Research Institute of Puhua Industry points out that technological breakthroughs have promoted the transformation of floating photovoltaic solutions from "engineering experiments" to "ecological engineering".
By 2025, the efficiency of global floating photovoltaic modules will exceed 23%, and the system cost will be reduced to below 1.5 yuan/W. Driven by economic factors, the IRR of projects in China, Southeast Asia, Europe and other regions will exceed 12%, and technological iteration will become the core driving force for market expansion.
2. Market pattern: expansion from regional pilot to global scale application
The global floating photovoltaic market presents a pattern of "Asia Pacific dominance, European follow-up, and emerging market rise".
The Chinese market: policy driven and economies of scale. China has become the world's largest market thanks to its abundant water resources (reservoirs, lakes, coal mining subsidence areas) and policy support. By 2025, the cumulative installed capacity of floating photovoltaic systems in China will reach 12GW, accounting for 40% of the global total.
At the enterprise level, leading photovoltaic companies such as Longi Green Energy and Trina Solar have formed a "materials+ integration + operation" alliance with energy companies such as China Power Construction and Three Gorges Corporation, covering the entire chain from component production to power station operation and maintenance. For example, the "Fishery Photovoltaic Complementary" project in Dezhou, Shandong Province, installs floating photovoltaic systems on 5,000 acres of water surface, with an annual power generation of 120 million kWh and a 30% increase in fish farming output value.
Asia Pacific market: incremental space in Southeast Asia and India. Southeast Asian countries are rapidly deploying offshore floating photovoltaic solutions based on their coastal resources and increasing electricity demand. The "Photovoltaic+ Desalination" project in Yue Nan Shun Province combines power generation with freshwater production to solve the problem of coastal water shortage. India provides a 20% capital subsidy to local floating photovoltaic manufacturing enterprises through the Production Linked Incentive Scheme (PLI) to cultivate the local industrial chain.
European market: technical standards and high-end applications. The European Union has adopted the Renewable Energy Directive, which requires member states to achieve a 45% share of renewable energy by 2030 and promote the application of floating photovoltaic systems in offshore areas. The offshore floating system developed by the Dutch company SolarDuck can keep photovoltaic panels above 3 meters above the water surface and withstand 5 levels of wave impact. The "Ocean Photovoltaic+ Hydrogen Production" project in Portugal achieves green fuel production by electrolyzing water to produce hydrogen.
The application scenario extends from inland waters to the ocean. Inland reservoirs have become the mainstream market due to their low wind and waves and low construction difficulty. Through breakthroughs in anti-salt spray and anti-typhoon technologies, the coastal areas are gradually achieving large-scale development. Deep Sea explores the "three-dimensional development of the ocean" model by integrating floating platforms with wind power and hydrogen energy. For example, the floating mounting structure developed by SINTEF in Norway can adapt to level seven waves and provide technical support for deep sea projects.
3. Policy support: systematic construction from financial subsidies to standard systems
Major economies around the world have incorporated floating photovoltaic solutions into their carbon neutrality strategies, promoting industry development through subsidies, tax incentives, standard setting, and other means.
China: combining top-level design with local implementation. At the national level, the "14th Five Year Plan" for the development of renewable energy has been issued, which clearly requires that the installed capacity of floating photovoltaic systems reach 15GW by 2025. At the local level, Anhui provides a subsidy of 0.1 yuan/kWh for floating photovoltaic projects, and Shandong provides a maximum project construction subsidy of 5 million yuan to promote the commercialization of technology. At the same time, the Ministry of Natural Resources has released the "Guidelines for Offshore Photovoltaic Development and Construction" to standardize key aspects such as sea use approval and ecological protection.
Europe and America: Carbon tariffs and green finance support. The EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) has put forward strict requirements for the carbon emissions of imported photovoltaic products, forcing Chinese floating photovoltaic enterprises to adopt low-carbon processes. The US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) provides a 30% investment tax credit (ITC) and allows projects to be financed through "green bonds" to reduce funding costs.
Standard system: establishing norms from scratch. China has released the "Design Specification for Floating Photovoltaic Systems" (GB/T 38948-2025), which specifies the requirements for wind pressure resistance, electrical safety, and ecological impact assessment of floating bodies. The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is developing global standards for floating photovoltaic solutions to address key issues such as module lifespan and anchoring reliability.
Zhongyan Puhua emphasized that policy support has shifted from "single subsidy" to "standard guidance+ ecological constraints", promoting the standardized and sustainable development of the floating photovoltaic industry by building a closed loop of technology market policy.
