Solar Power Inc. to develop floating solar projects

Mar 20 - Sacramento Bee (CA)

Solar Power Inc. has signed a partnership agreement to develop more than 50 megawatts of floating photovoltaic solar power projects in California , Arizona , New Mexico , Texas and Mexico .

SPI, which started in Roseville in 2006, moved its headquarters to Shanghai, China , earlier this year but continues to operate a Roseville office for its North American operations.

Under terms of the agreement, a joint venture holding company, Aqua Clean Energy Fund LLC , will co-develop the projects with SPI.

The projects involve construction and placement of solar panel-equipped platforms on large bodies of water, including reservoirs, quarry lakes, irrigation canals or remediation ponds. SPI said the platforms will be composed of recyclable materials, and will help reduce water evaporation and slow algae growth.

"This technology not only generates clean solar power energy but also serves to conserve water in critically dry regions, like the southwestern United States and California in particular, which is now experiencing its fourth consecutive year of drought," SPI Chairman Xiaofeng Peng said in a statement.

Call The Bee's Mark Glover , (916) 321-1184.

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