Session: 01-01-01 Offshore Platforms-1

Submission Number: 180105

Engineering Challenges and Failure Modes of Floating Photovoltaics: A Review on Inland and Offshore Applications 

Floating photovoltaic (FPV) technology is expanding rapidly as part of the global energy transition. However, as applications progress from inland to offshore waters, the engineering challenges increase significantly. Although offshore environments provide vast spatial potential and are free from terrestrial shading, they impose far more demanding technical requirements than inland and nearshore systems. This study reviews and compares the development of FPV technology across inland, nearshore, and offshore environments, with a focus on structural concepts, mooring and anchoring systems, hydrodynamic loading conditions, as well as installation, operation, maintenance, and failure modes. The findings reveal a clear disparity in technology readiness. FPV projects in inland waters (e.g., lakes and reservoirs) and nearshore areas (e.g., tidal zones) have achieved commercial maturity (Technology Readiness Level, (TRL) 8–9), whereas offshore projects remain at prototype and pilot stages (TRL 3–5). Offshore projects face significant constraints namely harsher hydrodynamic loads (higher wave heights), corrosion driven by high salinity, accelerated fatigue damage accumulation on floater structure and mooring components, along with higher-frequency maintenance. This review also provides a focused comparison of FPV failure modes across inland, nearshore, and offshore environments, offering new insights into the categorization of failure modes and the associated engineering challenges under different conditions. Furthermore, causes of famous FPV failures were also thoroughly discussed (environmental load, unsuitable layouts design, etc.). From a marine engineering perspective, the paper outlined practical guidance for future design, operation, and technological development of offshore FPV systems.

Presenting Author: Wei-Ling Tsai Engineering Science and Ocean Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taiwan

Presenting Author Biography: Wei-Ling Tsai is a graduate student in Engineering Science and Ocean Engineering at National Taiwan University. Her research interests include vessel motion and mooring analysis.

Authors:

Wei-Ling Tsai Engineering Science and Ocean Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taiwan
Wen-Yang Hsu Department of Harbor and River Engineering National Taiwan Ocean University, Taiwan
Chung-Yu Chen Engineering Science and Ocean Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taiwan
Guei-Yun Liaw Engineering Science and Ocean Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taiwan
Kai-Tung Ma Engineering Science and Ocean Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taiwan