Look closely at China’s solar power market and you might come across something a little, well, fishy.
Fish farm solar plants represent almost 9% of the 135.7 gigawatts of sun-power capacity installed across the country, according to BloombergNEF’s database. And, no, these aren’t pools of cod with photovoltaic fins. Many are banks of floating or fixed solar panels positioned over water where fish are farmed.
Workers at a solar farm outside Yueyang City on July 2. Panels are installed at a height that allows fishery vessels to pass underneath.
Photographer: Billy H.C. Kwok
Land constraints are the main driver for this growing market. China may not be short of land overall, but near cities, which require the most electricity, there is a shortage of suitable space for ...