Solar panels move to the water

New York Times : Solar panels that float on water are being manufactured and marketed by several startup companies. Sunengy of Australia, Solaris Synergy of Israel, and SPG Solar of Novato, California, are marketing their panels for use on agricultural and mining ponds, hydroelectric dams, and canals. Although floating solar arrays are a niche market, they could have global appeal—particularly in areas where land is too valuable to cover over with panels, such as vineyards in California’s Napa Valley, and in developing countries that have plenty of water and sunshine but shortages of electricity. In addition, solar panels floating on water could help control algae and reduce water loss to evaporation.