Indonesia is possibly the best place on the world for floating PV at sea (rather than inland lakes as it usually is).

Is anyone floating solar panels in the ocean? That sounds tough, but obviously worth exploring.

I do not believe that we can design a system that will withstand waves and wind from tropical monsoons or even most tropical storms or cyclones in the pacific. I can't speak for other oceans or areas of the world, but I believe that this design requirement will probably make it a non starter.

It's at pilot stage in various places. Japan is leading on this, as they did in floating voltaics generally.

Places with offshore wind are also looking at it as a way to share cables.

I'm guessing you've never actually been at sea in the region during the tropical monsoon | the annual cyclone season.

Most people outside of the pacific have no idea about monsoon effects on local weather/functions.

I'll bow to your local knowledge Captain Ahab, but bear in mind that being near the equator both maximises sun and avoids tropical storms.

See map for traces of storms:

https://reliefweb.int/attachments/da3ff0e6-13fc-311c-b9b1-dd...

Bonus challenge, can you find Japan, who are piloting this tech, on that map. They're in there somewhere under the squiggles.

Kick the snark down a few notches and maybe realise that cyclonic storm tracks aren't the limit of rough seas that result.

I don't hunt whales but I do have first hand direct experience of marine engineering in exactly that region.