Taiwan Study Finds Offshore Solar Outperforms Land-Based

Why this is here: The offshore system was estimated to avoid 1.013 million metric tons of CO2 emissions over its lifetime, compared to 0.905 million metric tons for the ground-mounted plant.

Researchers at Taiwan’s National Taipei University of Technology compared offshore and ground-mounted solar plants. They analyzed a 100 MW ground-mounted facility in Changbin Industrial Park against a 181 MW offshore floating project to assess energy generation. The team found offshore installations could generate roughly 12% more power over a 25-year lifespan, translating to about 2,047 GWh for the offshore system versus 1,828 GWh for the land-based one.

The scientists focused on energy payback time and energy return on investment, but did not calculate the levelized cost of electricity. Current estimates place the installation cost of offshore systems around 30% higher per kW compared to ground-mounted solar, particularly for projects in intertidal zones requiring specialized marine logistics.

Corrosion-resistant materials and durable floating structures remain areas needing further investigation. Despite challenges from harsh conditions like typhoons in the Taiwan Strait, the researchers believe offshore PV is technically viable and has already been demonstrated at a utility scale with the 181 MW project. Work to optimize designs and materials continues.