Solar-powered California canal becomes operational
In the heart of California's Central Valley, Project Nexus, a 1.6-megawatt solar power project, has recently gone live. This groundbreaking initiative, state-funded and developed by the Turlock Irrigation District, has transformed stretches of the district's canals into clean electricity generation hubs.
The primary purpose of these early solar canal projects, such as Project Nexus, is to power on-site canal equipment like pumps and gates. However, researchers will study the project's performance over time to assess its potential in the broader energy landscape.
Project Nexus, now operational, is only the second canal-based solar array to operate in the United States. It is one of just a handful of canal-top solar arrays worldwide, demonstrating the innovative approach being taken in California.
The solar power project was completed late last month at a cost of $20 million. Early research indicates that solar arrays above water can help improve panel efficiency and electricity output due to cooling effects. This could be a significant advantage in the quest for renewable energy.
Moreover, such projects could potentially contribute to cleaning up the larger grid in the future. Shade from solar panels can prevent water loss through evaporation in drought-prone regions and limit algae growth in waterways, furthering their environmental benefits.
The University of California is involved in the deployment of solar panels on canals in California. A new initiative led by California universities and the company Solar Aquagrid aims to fast-track the deployment of solar canals across the state, potentially offering a faster path to clean energy development than utility-scale solar farms, particularly in rural areas where big renewables projects face community opposition.
In Arizona, two more canal-top solar arrays are already in the works, following the success of Project Nexus. America's first solar-canal project started producing power in October 2024 for the Gila River Indian Community in Arizona.
David DeJong, director of the Pima-Maricopa Irrigation Project, stated that placing solar panels over canals is a more efficient approach, respecting land with sacred value. This approach aligns with the project's minimal impact on the landscape, as the relatively small installations can be connected to nearby distribution lines.
The solar-canal system in California was built in two phases, with a 20-foot-wide stretch completed in March and a roughly 110-foot-wide portion finished at the end of August. This amount of energy is enough to power nearly 20 million homes, marking a significant step towards a cleaner, more sustainable future.
A coalition of U.S. environmental groups previously estimated that putting panels over 8,000 miles of federally owned canals and aqueducts could generate over 25 gigawatts of renewable energy. This estimation also suggests that water evaporation could be reduced possibly by tens of billions of gallons, further highlighting the potential benefits of solar canal projects.
As Project Nexus continues to operate and the solar canal movement gains momentum, the future of renewable energy in the United States looks brighter than ever.
