Europe's largest floating solar panel array will be installed on the Queen Elizabeth II reservoir in Walton as part of Thames Water’s bid to self-generate a third of its energy by 2020.

More than 23,000 solar photovoltaic panels will float on around a tenth of the reservoir, the same size as eight Wembley football pitches.

It is hoped that the low carbon and renewable energy produced will reduce the prices that customers of Thames Water are currently paying.

Currently, bill payers in the Thames Water region pay is £367 a year, which is the third-lowest amount in the country.

It will have a total installed peak capacity of 6.3 megawatts and is expected to generate 5.8 million kilowatt hours in its first year, providing around 1,800 homes with power.

The deal, which was agreed by Thames Water, Ennogiva Solar and Lightsource Renewable Energy, has meant that construction started a few weeks ago, and is expected to be completed by the end of March.

Nick Boyle, chief executive of Lightsource, said: “There is a great need for energy intensive industries to reduce their carbon footprint, as well as the amount they are spending on electricity and solar can be the perfect solution.”

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