CHN Energy Shandong Branch’s First Large-scale Aquatic Photovoltaic Project Began Operation and Connected to the Grid

On December 31, 2022, as the operator switched on the button, the Liaocheng 202MW reservoir photovoltaic facility, the first large-scale aquatic photovoltaic project of the Shandong branch of CHN Energy, officially began operation and connected to the power grid. It is China’s second-largest floating photovoltaic power station as well as the largest launched by CHN Energy. It is estimated to generate electricity of 220 million kWh each year, providing high-quality, green power for Shandong Province.

A panoramic view of the Liaocheng reservoir photovoltaic project

Located in Tangyi Town, Dongchangfu District of Liaocheng City, Shandong Province, the project has been listed among the city’s renewable energy demonstration projects. With a total investment of 960 million yuan, it installed more than 370,000 solar panels across the idle space of more than 293 hectares on the self-used reservoir of the Liaocheng Branch of CHN Energy, with an installed capacity of 202MW. The photovoltaic power station is equipped with a 220KV booster station and a 44MW/88MW power storage station. When completed, the project is expected to annually generate electricity of 220 million kWh, save about 69,000 tons of standard coal, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 189,000 tons, sulfur dioxide emissions by 42.2 tons, nitrogen oxides emissions by 44 tons, and fume emissions by 8.5 tons, thus effectively improving the Liaocheng Branch’s power source structure, decreasing coal consumption, and achieving green, low-carbon transformation in the energy sector.

A corner of the Liaocheng reservoir photovoltaic project

The project adopts several innovative technologies such as remote integrated control, smart sensing, and intelligent decision-making, and explores advanced technologies such as the floater shift monitoring system, component automatic washing system, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle(UAV) patrolling, and bird-scaring devices. The photovoltaic panels installed on the reservoir can shelter the water surface from sunlight, thus effectively reducing vaporization. At the same time, vaporized water can cool down photovoltaic components, thus enhancing their working efficiency. This achieves a perfect combination between industrial water usage and photovoltaic power generation. Advanced techniques were applied in the project’s construction process: floater mooring anchors were first installed on the water, then photovoltaic array stands were installed on the shores and photovoltaic arrays placed to the water area, where they were finally assembled and fixed.