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India relies heavily on fossil fuels like coal to generate electricity. The country's sunny weather makes it ideal for solar technologies, but land can be expensive and in limited supply.

Over the last few years, several companies have piloted a solution – covering stretches of canal in solar panels. Not only does the innovation minimise land use, the panels also reduce evaporation. But do the benefits outweigh the higher upfront costs? Researchers in California assess their potential.

Edited by Thom Hoffman
Produced by Thom Hoffman and Jennifer Green

(Image: Woman sprays water onto the panels of one of India's first canal-top solar power plants, Credit: Getty Images.)