Lily pad idea to help light up the River Clyde

A PLAN was revealed to light up the River Clyde with giant solar lily pads along the River Clyde – if a city architect got his way.

Peter Richardson, of ZM Architects, believed the large floating discs would harness enough sunlight to boost the city’s electricity grid.

The lily pads – measuring between 15ft and 45ft in diameter would be secured to the river bed.

They would have motors to make them revolve and capture sunshine from any angle.

The floating discs would capture the sun’s rays using solar panels to produce electricity – even on a cloudy day.

At night they would provide stunning neon light circles beneath landmarks such as the Squinty Bridge, Glasgow Tower or the Finnieston Crane.

The futuristic scheme was part of a pilot project being considered by Glasgow City Council.

Mr Richardson said: “The River Clyde is a great resource, but it is not being properly used and there is very little river activity there. The solar lilies could power public realm lighting for the river, or lighting for the communal parts of a shared building, such as offices or apartment blocks.

“The council says it would like to see a pilot project on the banks of the Clyde and if these are lit up at night they would look spectacular.”

The solar lilies scheme won first prize in the Los Angeles-based International Design Awards Land and Sea competition five months earlier.