California's First Canal-Top Solar Project Now Fully Operational
California's first canal-top solar project, Nexus, is now fully operational. The 1.6 MW installation, completed on Turlock Irrigation District's canals, serves as a pioneering proof of concept for studying and implementing solar power on waterways. The $20 million state-funded pilot, a collaboration between public, private, and academic sectors, includes a battery energy storage system using 75 kW iron flow batteries from U.S. manufacturer ESS. Two photovoltaic systems were installed on canals of varying widths in Stanislaus County. The University of California, Merced, is leading research at the sites, collecting baseline data to study the design, implementation, and co-benefits of canal-top solar. TID is also investigating potential improvements in water quality due to reduced vegetative growth. A UC study estimates that covering California's 4,000 km of canals could save 63 billion gallons of water annually. The Nexus project, using TID's infrastructure and grid access, is presented as a model for agricultural regions facing water stress. Each ESS container provides 400 kWh of peak energy and has a lifespan of over 20,000 cycles, demonstrating the long-term potential of canal-top solar.
Read also:
- US Energy Transition: Coal Plants Struggle, States Push Renewables
- Transitioning to Electric Vehicles Places Heavy Demand on Power Grids
- E-mobility continues its progress after a decade since the scandal, staying on course
- The Commission deems the assistance program to be in agreement with the domestic market regulations.
