Torbay's deputy mayor, David Thomas, said it was one of the "best places in the country" to make use of solar energy.

BBC: Torquay harbour

These boxes include batteries that allow customers to store power for emergency use, cut back on energy consumption when prices are high and make use of energy drawn from rooftop solar panels.

FORBES: It's The Network

These investors could make use of a 30% federal tax credit for solar energy installation, as well as earning money from the leases and power purchase agreements, which run as long as 20 years.

FORBES: SolarCity Posts Higher Q1 Sales And Installations

One reason why the growth in gas-fired stations will be more gradual this time is that American regulators are ordering power utilities to make more use of wind, solar and other renewable sources of energy.

ECONOMIST: Cheap gas will boost makers of giant turbines

Water-cooling of this sort could also make a more direct contribution to the reduction of greenhouse-gas emissions, by promoting the use of solar energy.

ECONOMIST: Monitor