Study planned for Solar Panels to be installed on canals in Central Valley

California’s First Solar-Covered Canal Project Set to Break Ground

By Brittany Peterson and Sibi Arasu | Associated Press

In 2015, during California’s severe drought, Governor Jerry Brown implemented a 25% reduction in home water usage to combat the crisis. However, when Jordan Harris and Robin Raj proposed the idea of installing solar panels over irrigation canals to simultaneously address water loss and climate pollution, they faced skepticism and inability to secure commitments.

Fast forward to the present, where California is grappling with devastating heat, wildfires, a looming crisis on the Colorado River, and an increased focus on climate change. Solar AquaGrid, along with its partners, is preparing to embark on the groundbreaking of the first solar-covered canal project in the United States.

The concept behind the project is simple yet innovative: installing solar panels over canals in sunny regions with limited water supply reduces evaporation and produces electricity. A study conducted by the University of California, Merced estimates that California’s 4,000 miles of canals could save 63 billion gallons of water through such solar panel installations, while also generating a significant amount of electricity.

Thanks to the funding received by UC Merced to study the impact of solar-covered canals in California, the research findings gained momentum. Governor Gavin Newsom was reached, who in turn contacted his secretary of natural resources, Wade Crowfoot, expressing a desire to see the project come to fruition.

The Turlock Irrigation District, which provides power, also expressed interest in the concept due to challenges in finding affordable land for solar projects. Additionally, the shade provided by the solar panels could curtail weed growth in the canals, saving the utility significant costs. Inspired by the UC Merced study, the district sought to pilot the project and received $20 million in public funds. This collaboration between the private, public, and academic sectors will cover approximately 1.6 miles of canals, with solar panels positioned between five and fifteen feet above the ground.

The project aims to scientifically test various factors, ranging from evaporation to water quality, to ensure the viability and potential co-benefits of solar-covered canals.

Although California is not the first to explore this technology, taking inspiration from India’s solar canal projects, Solar AquaGrid seeks to address the challenges faced abroad, such as high capital costs and clunky design. By using better materials and elevating the panels higher above the canals, the California project aims to overcome these hurdles.

Project Nexus may soon be joined by similar initiatives, as the Gila River Indian Community and the Salt River Project in Arizona are also exploring the installation of solar panels on their canals to conserve water and generate renewable energy.

However, the adoption of such innovative approaches in the water infrastructure sector faces resistance due to the conservative nature of the field. Representative Jared Huffman has been advocating for solar-covered canals for almost a decade, but tall dam constructions still dominate the conversation. Nonetheless, progress is being made, and a provision of $25 million was secured to fund a pilot project for the Bureau of Reclamation.

Furthermore, over 100 climate advocacy groups have urged Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and Bureau Commissioner Camille Touton to accelerate the deployment of solar photovoltaic energy systems on the Bureau’s canals and aqueducts. They highlight that covering all 8,000 miles of Bureau-owned canals and aqueducts could generate 25 gigawatts of renewable energy, power millions of homes, and significantly reduce water evaporation.

While the ideal scenario would involve covering every canal, starting with the California Aqueduct and the Delta Mendota canal is a compelling and overdue step forward, according to Huffman. The groundbreaking of California’s first solar-covered canal project signifies progress in the intersection of water management and renewable energy.

(Note: This article was written by Sibi Arasu in Bengaluru, India)