<
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/05/04/solar-on-canals-reduces-water-evaporation-by-70-and-algae-growth-by-85/>
"In September 2025, the Nexus pilot project in California, United States, was
completed. The 1.6 MW solar installation is located on canals operated by the
Turlock Irrigation District (TID) and was developed through a public-private
partnership between the California Department of Water Resources, TID, Solar
AquaGrid, and the University of California (UC), Merced. The project aimed to
generate empirical data under real-world operating conditions.
Launched in 2022, the pilot evaluated the technical and operational feasibility
of deploying PV systems on active irrigation canals. The concept enables dual
use of existing infrastructure: clean electricity generation alongside reduced
water evaporation and minimized land use – an approach particularly relevant in
agricultural regions such as California’s Central Valley.
The project monitors key performance indicators including electricity
generation, evaporation losses, water quality, aquatic vegetation growth, and
canal maintenance requirements. After one irrigation season, initial results
indicate measurable benefits for the water sector. Canal sections covered with
PV modules showed reduced evaporation and lower aquatic weed proliferation,
which may translate into reduced operating costs.
Specifically, continuous measurements over a full irrigation season recorded
evaporation reductions of 50-70% beneath the solar arrays and an 85% decrease
in algae growth, a result that could yield operational efficiencies in canal
management. These findings are consistent with earlier research by UC Merced,
which highlighted the potential of canal-based solar systems to improve
water-use efficiency in open-channel infrastructure."
Via Christoph S.
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
