China tests underwater solar power plant, a world first

China tested a photovoltaic system capable of generating electricity at a depth of 10 meters, using perovskite cells. The experiment, conducted off the coast of Weizhou Islands, successfully charged lithium-ion batteries and powered an LED. The cells demonstrated a conversion efficiency of 34.71% under simulated conditions, with limited degradation after 1,160 hours of exposure. This technology could power underwater equipment such as sensors and robots.