Scientists in Taiwan have found that offshore floating solar panels could produce significantly more electricity than land-based systems due to the natural cooling effect of seawater.

According to the study, offshore floating photovoltaic (OFPV) systems produced around 12 percent more electricity over their lifetime compared to conventional ground-mounted solar farms operating under the same conditions.

The research was conducted by Shih-Kai Chen, PhD, an associate professor at the National Taipei University of Technology (NTUT), specializing in water engineering, alongside fellow researcher Ching-Feng Chen, PhD, an expert in offshore floating photovoltaic energy.

“Because of this higher energy output, they also achieve greater carbon emission reductions,” Ching-Feng pointed out. “In simple terms, even though both systems use similar technology, placing solar panels on water can make them more effective.”

Offshore solar advantage

The researchers said one of the main reasons for the higher electricity generation of offshore floating solar panels is the natural cooling effect of the surrounding water. High temperatures can lower solar panel performance, but seawater helps absorb the excess heat.

Because of the increased energy generation, the offshore systems also hit greater carbon emission reductions over their operational lifespan. The researchers used a lifecycle energy assessment approach to compare the environmental impact of the two technologies.

To maintain consistency, they normalized both systems to a 100-megawatt-peak (MWp) scale. This is the maximum power output a solar installation can achieve under standard conditions.

The land-based LPV system at Taiwan’s Changbin Industrial Park already operated at 100 MWp. The OFPV system originally had a capacity of 181 MWp. As a result, it was adjusted to the same capacity for a fair comparison.

“This normalization approach allowed us to directly compare performance metrics – such as energy yield, efficiency, and environmental impacts – under equivalent system capacities, eliminating bias due to size differences,” Chen pointed out.

Higher output at sea

The findings arrive as governments worldwide intensify efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions and expand renewable energy generation in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement. The treaty also seeks to reduce emissions by 45 percent by 2030, and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

Adopted in 2015, the treaty aims to limit global warming to below 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit (two degrees Celsius) above pre-industrial levels. It also encourages efforts to keep the temperature rise within 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 degrees Celsius).

The scientists emphasized that offshore floating solar is emerging as an attractive option for densely populated or land-constrained countries. “Taiwan’s pathway to net-zero emissions by 2050 requires innovative deployment strategies, not just more of the same technologies,” Chen explained.

Meanwhile, nations have already begun deploying OFPV systems on reservoirs, lakes, as well as offshore waters to avoid competing with agriculture or urban development.

“From a broader perspective, our work shows that offshore floating solar is not just a technical alternative but a strategic solution for other countries with limited land resources that can help expand their renewable energy capacity while still meeting environmental and land-use constraints,” Chen said in a press release.

The study has been published in the Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy.