Wedoany.com Report-Sept. 23, China is advancing its marine solar development with a 1.8 GW offshore PV demonstration project in Changli county, Qinhuangdao, Hebei province. The project, with a total investment of CNY 14.4 billion ($2.2 billion), is jointly developed by four central state-owned enterprises: Huadian, Guodian, Guohua Investment, and China Power Construction. Scheduled for full grid connection by the end of July 2026, the initiative is Hebei’s first offshore PV project of this scale.

The project spans roughly 17 square kilometers of sea area and consists of four sub-projects. The Huadian Changli 500 MW Pilot has an AC capacity of 460.8 MW, covers 4.68 km², and is expected to generate 770 GWh annually. Using fixed-mount structural designs, it involves an investment of CNY 3.1 billion. The Guodian 500 MW project, with an investment of CNY 2.6 billion, targets 690 GWh annual generation, employs N-type TOPCon modules, 110 kV collection lines, and has an internal rate of return on equity of 7.02%.

The Guohua 500 MW sub-project has a DC/AC capacity of 500/201.6 MW, deploying 620 Wp N-type TOPCon modules with 300 kW string inverters, and is planned for completion in November 2025. China Power Construction’s 300 MW project features deep-water fixed-pile foundations, the largest platforms, and the greatest average water depth among the four projects. Technical specifications for this sub-project have not been disclosed.

All four sub-projects connect via submarine cables to self-built 220 kV booster stations, feeding into the Qin Hai Guang 500 MW boost station. Huadian’s sub-project uses 110 kV collection lines and directional drilling for submarine cables, setting national records in cable routing distance. Materials are selected for corrosion resistance, including special steel with advanced coatings and polyurethane-edged frames to reduce potential-induced degradation under high humidity and salt-spray exposure.

Construction began in early 2025, and by August, about 240 steel-pipe piles had been installed. In the coming months, submarine cable laying and equipment commissioning will accelerate. When fully operational, the project is expected to generate approximately 2.75 TWh annually, covering nearly 49% of Qinhuangdao’s electricity demand. It will reduce coal consumption by around 840,000 tonnes and cut CO₂ emissions by about 2.16 million tonnes per year.

The project will create over 2,000 local jobs and generate more than CNY 1 billion in annual economic output through the green energy supply chain, including marine equipment and power engineering. As Hebei’s first large-scale offshore PV project, Changli is positioned as a demonstration model for China’s broader marine solar strategy. With abundant shoreline resources, high solar irradiation, and proximity to load centres along the eastern seaboard, offshore PV is expected to play a key role in China’s clean energy expansion, potentially contributing over 10% of clean energy capacity growth by 2030, with cumulative offshore PV installations exceeding 100 GW.