Corrosion Characteristics and Module Reliability Assessment of Floating Photovoltaic Systems in offshore Environments

Myenggil Gang; Seong Dae Kim; Alex Lim; Hyunsik Jo; Jieun Lee; Chang-Sub Won

doi:10.21218/CPR.2026.14.3.112

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Corrosion Characteristics and Module Reliability Assessment of Floating Photovoltaic Systems in offshore Environments 해상 환경 부유식 태양광 시스템의 부식 특성 및 모듈 신뢰성 평가

30 September 2026. pp. 112-119

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Abstract

This study presents a case analysis of corrosion effects and photovoltaic module reliability in floating photovoltaic (FPV) systems installed in harsh offshore environments in South Korea. In collaboration with K-Water, a marine FPV test-bed was installed in 2021 at Saemangeum seawater lake to investigate the durability and operational stability of floating solar power systems under corrosive and mechanically demanding conditions. The environmental conditions included typhoon-induced wave heights of up to 2 m and wind speeds reaching 25 m/s. The modular raft-type floating system had a capacity of 100 kW and incorporated approximately 240 shingled 420 W photovoltaic modules. The study focused on both the atmospheric corrosion behavior of FPV structural materials and the occurrence of cell cracks in floating photovoltaic modules. To evaluate corrosion resistance, exposure tests were conducted on PosMAC (Zn-3%Mg-2.5%Al ternary alloy-coated steel), stainless steel, and aluminum in accordance with ISO 9223 and ISO 9226 standards. Corrosion grades and corrosion rates were assessed through periodic measurements conducted every three months over a one-year exposure period. Specimen holder units were designed to minimize specimen occlusion and prevent galvanic interference. After the exposure tests, corrosion products were removed using chemical cleaning procedures according to the metal type, and corrosion rates were determined by weight-loss measurements. In parallel, Electroluminescence (EL) testing was conducted twice during operation to analyze the generation and propagation of solar cell cracks. The results showed that some cracks remained stable in localized regions of the modules, whereas others progressively developed under mechanical stress and environmental loading conditions. The findings provide important insights into the corrosion characteristics of FPV structural materials and the mechanical durability of photovoltaic modules in marine environments.

Keywords

Photovoltaic

Floating Photovoltaic System

Renewable Envergy

Maintenance

Corrosion test

Off-shore

Electroluminescence

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Information

Publisher :Korea Photovoltaic Society
Publisher(Ko) :한국태양광발전학회
Journal Title :Current Photovoltaic Research
Volume : 14
No :3
Pages :112-119
Received Date : 2026-06-02
Revised Date : 2026-06-30
Accepted Date : 2026-06-30
DOI :https://doi.org/10.21218/CPR.2026.14.3.112

Current Photovoltaic Research ISSN:2288-3274(Print) 2508-125X(Online)

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