"That's a concise description of a recently-completed initiative known as Project Nexus, which was funded by the state and constructed under the aegis of the Turlock Irrigation District.Why put solar panels over a canal at all? As Project Nexus's website explains, one of the goals is simply to see what effect this has on the water flowing below this technology."
"The project was also created with reducing water evaporation in mind; the placement of the solar panels also means that more solar power is being generated in an ecologically-friendly manner. As Maria Gallucci reports at Canary Media, this is one of only two such projects in the U.S., both of which have been completed in the last two years. Gallucci's analysis points to another reason why initiatives like Project Nexus are appealing to environmental advocates:"
Project Nexus installs solar panels over a California irrigation canal. The initiative was funded by the state and constructed by the Turlock Irrigation District. The array aims to measure impacts on the water below and to reduce water evaporation. The overhead placement increases solar generation without consuming additional land. Similar projects are rare in the United States, with only one other completed recently. Solar panels in these installations currently power canal infrastructure. A precursor by the Gila River Indian Community demonstrates potential evolution of the approach. Drought concerns in the southwestern United States increase interest in measures that save each acre-foot of water.
#canal-solar-panels #water-evaporation-reduction #land-use-efficiency #renewable-energy-infrastructure
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