China has put into operation the world's first floating solar power station with a capacity of 100 kW, built using bamboo structures. The platform, named Jilin-2, has been deployed off the coast of Yantai in Shandong Province.
The station consists of composite bamboo pipes and pipelines. It will become part of a demonstration base and will supply electricity to a project for the production of hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol.
The development was carried out by the CIMC Marine Engineering Research Institute, Yantai CIMC Raffles Ocean Technology Group, as well as the China Forestry Group Corporation and Beijing Forestry University. The platform is a development of the Jilin-1 prototype with a capacity of 10 kW, created back in 2023.
According to representatives of CIMC Raffles, the bamboo structure significantly reduces the impact on the marine environment compared to steel or polyethylene counterparts. This is part of broader efforts to replace traditional materials with more environmentally friendly ones.
Could this approach accelerate the transition to sustainable marine energy solutions? For now, the platform remains experimental, but it already demonstrates the potential of bamboo in offshore projects.
The news appeared on 27 August 2026 and is based on a statement by the manufacturer made at the end of June.
