Ciel & Terre has completed work on a 70MW floating solar installation for state-owned developer the China Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Group.
The project is connected to the grid at a former coal mine in the city of Suzhou, in the northern part of Anhui province. China Energy Conservation Solar Technology oversaw construction and China Energy Engineering Group Shanxi Electric Power Design Institute provided EPC services, according to an emailed statement.
"The plant completion is a technical achievement considering its size," Ciel & Terre said, pointing to the use of centralized inverters integrated with medium-voltage transformers held above the surface of the water on poles. "Overall, 1,500 helical anchors were used for the project and buried from eight to 15-meter depth to fit the configuration of the site."
To facilitate grid connection, the project included the installation of a 110V transmission line spanning roughly 18km, across what Ciel & Terre described as "13 islets". It is expected to generate about 77.8GWh of electricity in its first year of operation.