Solar Power Canopy Over Water Canal Now Generating Electricity - CleanTechnica

Source: cleantechnica
Author: @cleantechnica
Published: 10/16/2025
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Read original articleA pilot project called “Project Nexus” in Turlock, California, has successfully installed two solar power canopies over irrigation canals, generating enough electricity to power several thousand homes. These solar canopies feed electricity into the grid, benefiting local customers. The initiative, led by the Turlock Irrigation District, leverages the unused space above canals, avoiding the need for additional land—a significant advantage given California’s high land costs.
Beyond efficient land use, placing solar panels over canals offers several environmental and operational benefits. The canopies provide shade that reduces water evaporation from the canals, addressing a major issue in California where 4,000 miles of irrigation canals lose approximately 63 billion gallons of water annually to evaporation. Additionally, the water beneath helps keep the panels cooler, improving their electricity production efficiency. Proximity to existing high-voltage power lines near canals also facilitates easier grid connections. If successful, Project Nexus could serve as a model for expanding solar power generation while conserving water resources in California’s
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energysolar-powerrenewable-energysolar-panelswater-conservationirrigation-canalsclean-energy