PVTIME – On 28th August, China Forest Farm Group Corporation Limited and CIMC Raffles Offshore Engineering Pte. Ltd. (CIMC Raffles) have officially launched Jilin I, the first bamboo-based offshore photovoltaic platform in China. The platform, which is environmentally friendly, was jointly researched and developed by the two companies in Yantai City.
This marks the debut use of lightweight and high-strength bamboo-based offshore materials as the primary substance in China. The goal is to replace steel with bamboo. This offshore photovoltaic platform measures 7 metres in length, 7 metres in width, and 2.4 metres in height. It weighs about 4 tonnes.
Bamboo-based materials utilised for offshore platform construction offer buoyancy, resistance to seawater corrosion, extended longevity, and cost-effectiveness. These materials are eco-friendly and present an alternative to the prevailing high-density polyethylene floater and steel welded structure used in the current floating water photovoltaic system. This replacement generates cost savings and safeguards marine ecosystems, ultimately promoting “green power green manufacturing.”
The R&D teams of both parties designed and built it through three stages, involving material innovation, trial production, and installation and commissioning. Both sides will use their expertise in marine engineering, clean energy, and new technologies involving bamboo and wood materials to enhance the potential of such materials in fields like offshore vessels and equipment. Moreover, there will be a focused effort on researching bamboo and wood materials to support the evolution of offshore wind turbine blades, boarding bridges, containers, fixed platforms, and other innovative products.
