The floating pontoon will measure 57,500m2, the size of eight football pitches, and is expected to generate 5.8million kilowatt hours of electricity per year, enough to power 1800 homes, and will be used to part power a nearby water treatment works.
The reservoir is run by the water company, while the farm is being funded and operated by solar energy company, Lightsource. Thames Water's energy manager, Angus Berry, said the farm would help the firm become "a more sustainable business". The company is looking to self-generate a third of its energy by 2020.
The previous largest floating solar farm in Europe was opened in Hyde, Greater Manchester, at Christmas. It measures 45,500m2. However, it and Thames Water farm will both be dwarfed by the world's largest. Kyocera is building what will be the biggest floating array on Yamakura Dam in Japan, which it claims will measure 180,000m2 when completed.
