Floating photovoltaic (FPV) power generation technology in freshwater has addressed some of the limitations of traditional land-based photovoltaics and has seen rapid development over the past decade. Meanwhile, the application of FPV in marine environments has become an important area of research. The marine environment, characterized by its unique conditions such as salinity, wave action, and high humidity, differs significantly from terrestrial settings. Under similar lighting conditions, the open sea, which enjoys long hours of sunshine and high solar radiation, results in higher light utilization efficiency for offshore floating photovoltaic (OFPV) projects, thereby significantly enhancing power generation. However, ensuring the survival of OFPV in extreme natural conditions remains the greatest challenge for the future implementation of such projects. This paper first outlines the development of FPV systems, analyzing the forms, characteristics, and applicability of various floating structures in marine environments. The focus of the paper is on the fluid dynamic challenges that OFPV structures face under wave and wind loads. Based on the design feasibility of different OFPV structures, the paper reviews research findings on related structures from a design feasibility perspective and specifically introduces the core analytical methods for fluid dynamic calculations of OFPV systems with multi-module connections and membrane structures. Finally, the paper proposes potential future development directions for OFPV systems, highlighting areas for further research and innovation.
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June 2025
Review Article|
June 12 2025
An overview for offshore floating photovoltaic structures and their fluid dynamic issues Available to Purchase
Ruijia Jin (金瑞佳)
;
Ruijia Jin (金瑞佳)
a)
(Conceptualization, Funding acquisition, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing)
1
Tianjin Research Institute for Water Transport Engineering, National Engineering Laboratory for Port Hydraulic Construction Technology
, Tianjin 300456, China
a)Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: [email protected]
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Baolei Geng (耿宝磊);
Baolei Geng (耿宝磊)
b)
(Methodology, Writing – review & editing)
1
Tianjin Research Institute for Water Transport Engineering, National Engineering Laboratory for Port Hydraulic Construction Technology
, Tianjin 300456, China
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Xiaoqi Zhao (赵肖奇);
Xiaoqi Zhao (赵肖奇)
c)
(Data curation, Formal analysis, Writing – review & editing)
2
School of Hydraulic Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology
, Taiyuan 030024, China
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Ming He (贺铭)
Ming He (贺铭)
d)
(Funding acquisition, Writing – review & editing)
3
Tianjin Key Laboratory of Port and Ocean Engineering, Tianjin University
, Tianjin 300350, China
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Baolei Geng (耿宝磊)
1,b)
Xiaoqi Zhao (赵肖奇)
2,c)
1
Tianjin Research Institute for Water Transport Engineering, National Engineering Laboratory for Port Hydraulic Construction Technology
, Tianjin 300456, China
2
School of Hydraulic Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology
, Taiyuan 030024, China
3
Tianjin Key Laboratory of Port and Ocean Engineering, Tianjin University
, Tianjin 300350, China
a)Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: [email protected]
b)
Electronic mail: [email protected]
c)
Electronic mail: [email protected]
d)
Electronic mail: [email protected]
Physics of Fluids 37, 061301 (2025)
Article history
Received:
March 25 2025
Accepted:
April 19 2025
Citation
Ruijia Jin, Baolei Geng, Xiaoqi Zhao, Ming He; An overview for offshore floating photovoltaic structures and their fluid dynamic issues. Physics of Fluids 1 June 2025; 37 (6): 061301. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0272574
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