Coastal conditions and salt spray exposure pose challenging operating conditions for many infrastructure systems, including heat pumps and solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. By accelerating component corrosion and shortening their useful life, salt exposure may lead to multiple issues for this equipment, including increased maintenance costs, reduced operational efficiency, reliability issues, and ultimately poor investment returns. To better understand the issue and inform future decisions on installing heat pumps and PV measures in coastal environments, the Secretariat conducted an in-depth review of publicly available information, including published literature and equipment documentation.
Heat Pump Mitigation Measures
As a general rule of thumb, heat pump installations located within 1 km of the sea, or where the sea is visible from the installation site, may be at risk of salt-related damage. In practice, corrosion risk should be assessed more accurately by considering site‑specific factors such as prevailing winds, obstructions and unit placement relative to the sea, and local humidity levels.
Solar PV System Mitigation Measures
For solar PV systems, IEC 61701-certified panels should be used, and the installation should include corrosion-resistant components such as galvanised steel racking frames, stainless steel fasteners, and sealed electrical connectors.