A floating solar plant is set to be constructed on a wastewater treatment basin in South Australia, in an Australia-first initiative.

The plant, which is expected to be up and running by April, will float on a water treatment facility in Jamestown, according to the ABC. It will be used to generate energy to power the plant and any leftover energy will be transferred to the town of Jamestown.

It looks very similar to a traditional land-based solar plant, besides the fact it is designed to float. The system uses high-density polyethylene pipe for buoyancy and sits on a structural steel pontoon, which the panels slot into.

Infratech Industries is behind the ambitious project that will see efficiency increased by 57% compared to the land-based comparison. Felicia Whiting of Infratech Industries told the ABC the system is perfect for dry climates as the water body keeps the panels cool.

"It prevents water evaporation up to 90 per cent of the surface area covered, and for dry states and dry climates that's a big water saving measure," Whiting said.

"Quite sustainably, with no additional use of land, we can use the water surface to power the water treatment facility. In addition to that, because we're so efficient, we're able to export power to the township."

The panels also prevent the outbreak of blue-green algae, due to temperature control caused by the system, meaning the wastewater quality improves.

The company has floating barges in South Korea, Italy and France yet this will be the first system of its kind on a treated wastewater plant.