California's Canal-Top Solar Project Generates Clean Energy, Saves Water
A groundbreaking project in California has completed its first-of-its-kind solar installation on the state's canals. The Nexus project, a 1.6 MW solar installation, is now operational and aims to save water while generating clean energy.
The University of California, Merced, led the project using infrastructure and grid access provided by the Turlock Irrigation District (TID). It's the first US effort to bring together public, private, and academic sectors for such an initiative.
The project covers two canals in Stanislaus County, one 30 meters wide and the other 6 meters wide. It includes a battery energy storage system using 75 kW iron flow batteries from ESS, with each container providing 400 kWh of peak energy and lasting over 20,000 cycles.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) supported the project with research equipment. The university has deployed equipment at both sites to gather baseline data. The project serves as a proof of concept to study the design, implementation, and co-benefits of canal-top solar.
The $20 million state-funded pilot is expected to save 63 billion gallons of water annually by reducing evaporation. It also improves water quality by minimizing vegetative growth. The project is presented as a model for other agricultural regions facing water stress. The University of California, Merced, and TID continue to study potential improvements and collaborate on future projects.
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