The skimmer has a conveyor belt which travels in ascending and descending paths. The lower portion of the belt is adapted to be immersed in the water in a swimming pool for skimming debris floating on the surface of the water. The debris is carried upward by the belt and separates from the belt at its upper end. Any debris which does not separate from the belt is removed by a brush which contacts the belt as it travels in the descending path. The belt has perforations through which water passes. One or more solar panels activate, in hole or in part, the operation of the conveyor belt. The solar panels can be aimed at the sum whether it is high or low in the sky and once aimed, move at a rate which equals the observed rate of movement of the sun as it crosses the sky from morning to evening such that the solar panels continuously face the sun during daylight.