Juli Sling Supports the World’s First 100 kW Bamboo-Based Offshore Floating PV Platform

On July 24, the world’s first 100 kW-class bamboo-based offshore photovoltaic platform, “Jilin No. 2,” was successfully completed and launched in Yantai, Shandong, China. Built around bamboo-wound composite materials, the innovative platform represents a new step forward in the application of sustainable materials for marine engineering and demonstrates the potential of offshore renewable energy development.

Behind this pioneering project, Juli Sling supplied critical rigging components, including high-strength shackles and mooring ropes, helping provide reliable connections and anchoring support for the platform in demanding offshore conditions.

A New Approach to Offshore Floating Solar Power

“Jilin No. 2” was jointly developed by China Forestry Green Carbon, China Forestry Xinzou, CIMC Ocean Engineering Research Institute, and Beijing Forestry University. With a photovoltaic capacity of 100 kW, the platform builds on the core technology developed for “Jilin No. 1” while increasing its overall dimensions and load-bearing area to achieve higher power generation capacity.

The platform is designed for challenging marine environments and can withstand waves reaching approximately 5–6 meters, as well as repeated wave impacts. This capability makes it suitable for offshore renewable energy applications where structures and connection systems must remain stable under changing wind, wave, and tidal loads.

The use of bamboo-wound composite materials also highlights a growing interest in lower-carbon and lightweight structural solutions for marine engineering. By combining material innovation with renewable energy technology, the project provides a new direction for the development of offshore floating photovoltaic systems.

Reliable Connections Are Critical to Offshore Platform Safety

For a floating photovoltaic platform, structural stability depends on more than the strength of the main body. The mooring system and connection components must continuously respond to wind, waves, currents, tidal movement, and other dynamic loads.

Offshore equipment also faces long-term exposure to salt spray and seawater. Corrosion, cyclic loading, abrasion, and repeated wave impacts can gradually affect the performance of connection and mooring components.

For this reason, the selection of suitable shackles and mooring ropes is an important part of offshore platform engineering. These components connect and secure different parts of the system while transferring loads between the floating structure and its anchoring arrangement.

For “Jilin No. 2,” Juli Sling provided a range of rigging products, including high-strength shackles and high-performance mooring ropes, supporting key functions related to anchoring, connection, and platform stability.

Heavy Duty Shackles for High-Load Connections

Shackles are essential connection components in offshore floating structures. They can be used at connection points where significant tensile and dynamic loads need to be transferred between structural or mooring components.

Juli Sling’s heavy duty shackles are designed for demanding lifting, anchoring, and connection applications. Manufacturing processes include controlled heat treatment and surface protection to improve mechanical performance and resistance to harsh service conditions.

For offshore photovoltaic platforms, reliable shackles can help maintain secure connections under changing loads. Their performance becomes particularly important in environments exposed to high salt spray, strong waves, and continuous cyclic loading.

Proper shackle selection should consider the working load, connection configuration, load direction, environmental conditions, and required service life. Matching the shackle specification to the actual engineering requirements helps reduce connection-related risks throughout the operating period.

Floating Mooring Ropes: A Key Part of Platform Stability

A floating photovoltaic platform needs a reliable mooring system to maintain its position while allowing controlled movement in response to waves and currents. Mooring ropes therefore play an important role in the overall stability of the floating structure.

Juli Sling supplies floating mooring ropes for offshore and marine applications where high strength, low weight, flexibility, and resistance to environmental exposure are important considerations.

Compared with heavier traditional mooring components, fiber ropes can offer significant weight advantages while providing the strength required for demanding mooring applications. Their flexibility also allows the mooring system to accommodate dynamic movements generated by waves and currents.

For floating solar platforms, an appropriately engineered mooring rope system can help control platform movement and maintain the intended position of the photovoltaic array. Rope termination and connection design are equally important because the load transferred through the mooring system must be distributed reliably across the complete assembly.

The actual rope construction, diameter, strength, termination method, and configuration should be selected according to the platform design, water depth, environmental loads, anchoring arrangement, and project requirements.

Supporting the Development of Offshore Renewable Energy

The successful launch of “Jilin No. 2” demonstrates how different technologies and industrial capabilities can come together in the development of offshore renewable energy.

The platform combines bamboo-based composite materials, photovoltaic generation technology, marine engineering, and specialized connection and mooring systems. Each element contributes to the platform’s ability to operate in a demanding offshore environment.

As floating solar technology develops, applications may extend beyond conventional nearshore installations to marine ranching areas, offshore energy facilities, and other marine infrastructure. These projects will place increasing requirements on mooring systems, connection components, corrosion protection, and long-term operational reliability.

For suppliers of marine rigging products, this development also creates opportunities to support the next generation of offshore renewable energy projects with specialized ropes, shackles, and connection solutions.

Juli Sling: Supporting Safer Offshore Applications

The development of offshore floating photovoltaic platforms requires reliable components at every connection point. While the main structure attracts most of the attention, mooring ropes, shackles, and other rigging components play an equally important role in maintaining structural integrity and operational stability.

By supplying high-strength shackles and mooring rope solutions for the “Jilin No. 2” project, Juli Sling contributed to the connection and anchoring system of one of the world’s first 100 kW-class bamboo-based offshore floating photovoltaic platforms.

As offshore renewable energy continues to expand, Juli Sling will continue to focus on the performance, reliability, and application of lifting and rigging products for demanding marine environments.

From floating photovoltaic platforms to offshore engineering projects, reliable rigging components provide the connection between innovative structures and safe operation.