Largest floating power station in Europe

Europe's largest floating power station is near completion.

When the £6.5m solar farm goes fully online, it will help power water treatment works on the outskirts of London.

One of the biggest advantages here is the water keeps the panels cool, keeps the wires cool, and actually increases the efficiency of the installation.

Plus in an area such as this - this is built up London - space is at a premium, and this is utilising space that wasn't being utilised for anything else than water treatment, which it can still do.

Each panel is mounted onto an air-filled float, which are joined together to make rafts. Deep divers have fixed 177 anchors to the bottom of the reservoir and cables carry the power ashore and onto the treatment centre a few kilometres away.

Floating solar farms are becoming popular wherever things are a bit cramped.

Japan already has one water based solar plant and is currently building the world's biggest.

The first was built in the UK in 2014, in Berkshire, and another is under construction in Manchester.