Brazil has launched the first stage of a 10MW floating solar project.

A solar system with a capacity of 1MW, which is located at a hydropower plant in Balbina, has started operating.

It is part of a study that includes two floating arrays which in total are expected to have a capacity of 10MW.

Another 1MW of capacity is expected to start operating at the Sobradinho hydro plant on Friday.

If both systems are successful, a further 4MW will be added to each array in Ocotber next year.

The investment of the whole project is estimated to reach $26.8 million (£18.22m) and is expected to be completed by January 2019.

In the UK, the construction of Europe’s largest floating solar project with a capacity of 6.3MW has begun.