Listen
Photo: https://oceansun.no/
Floating solar panels are being developed to sit on the ocean's surface, providing power to ships and shore.
Børge Bjørneklett's Norwegian company, Ocean Sun already has them in operation in the Singapore Strait.
Floating solar is also in use on lakes. In New Zealand a 1 megawatt set of solar panels floats on pontoons at the Rosedale wastewater treatment plant, to avoid using valuable land.
Ocean Sun has patented solar panels that are robust in high wind, waves, and strong currents.
They sit on a floating rig, resting on a flexible base.
Børge tells Kathryn he thinks New Zealand is ripe for floating solar, both near shore and on artificial lakes or hydro dams.