A 120 MW solar power plant located in a fishing ground near Cixi, in Zhejiang province, China, was recently completed. The plant, which has a guaranteed price of RMB0,95 ($0,12)/kWh, is the second phase of a 320 MW project led by Chinese developer Hangzhou Fengling.
China-based developer Hangzhou Fengling Power Science Technology recently completed the construction of a 120 MW solar plant on the surface of the Changhe and Zhouxiang reservoirs in Cixi, Province Zhejiang. This array is the second phase of the 320 MW PV project, following the completion of the first 200 MW phase in 2017.
Chinese inverter manufacturer Shenzhen Kstar Science and Technology, which supplied the GSL2500C-MV and GSL1250 central inverters for phase two, recently revealed some details about the factory in a short chat with pv magazine.
“The 320 MW plant currently has an expected annual output of 352 million KWH,” said Tammy Tang, Kstar marketing manager. “The annual revenue from electricity generated for the plant's owners is about $45 million, while the annual income from fisheries can reach nearly $5 million.”
The second phase of the plant, which is selling electricity at RMB0,95 ($0,12)/kWh, requires an overall investment of about $100 million. Kstar said the supplied inverters are specially customized for power plants built on water and can operate safely in wet environments. “The inverters have safeguards against dust and moisture,” Tang added.
The developer is combining solar power production with aquaculture activities. “The photovoltaic panels are set up on the water surface of the reservoir, and the water area below the photovoltaic panels can be used for fish farming,” Tang added. “Fishermen can fish and boat there.”
She said the presence of solar panels also helps reduce water evaporation on the water surface and save water resources, while creating a better hatching environment for fish and increasing aquatic production. “The PV power plant has high power generation efficiency and low operating and maintenance costs, as well as minimal impact on maritime life,” Tang said.
A similar project is the 260MW solar power project recently completed by China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN). The plant is unbundled and sells electricity at 3844 RMB/kWh. This facility is located at a fishing ground in Khishan district, Anhui province.
Sources: https://www.pv-magazine.com/2020/04/17/another-120-mw-of-solar-aquaculture-in-china/