What California Is Learning from Solar Panels Built over Irrigation Canals
3 hours ago
- California is piloting solar panels over irrigation canals to reduce water evaporation and generate clean energy, addressing both water scarcity and clean electricity goals.
- The Project Nexus pilot in Turlock tests three solar canal designs and has shown benefits like reduced algae growth, improved water quality, and energy generation sufficient to power thousands of households.
- Building solar on canals avoids using undeveloped land, speeds up permitting, and offers multiple co-benefits, but challenges include coordinating multiple stakeholders and adapting to different canal types.
- The state is evaluating results before scaling, with a final report due later this year.