The Nexus project, a 1.6 MW solar installation on the canals of the Turlock Irrigation District (TID) in California, is now complete and operational. The $20 million state-funded pilot is presented as a model for agricultural regions affected by water stress.
Two photovoltaic systems were installed, one spanning a 30-meter-wide section and another covering a 6-meter-wide canal in Stanislaus County. Both sites became fully operational in August 2025.
The project serves as a proof of concept to study the design, implementation, and co-benefits of canal-top solar. It uses TID’s infrastructure and grid access and is the first US effort of its kind to include collaboration between the public, private, and academic sectors.
A battery energy storage system has been installed at the narrowest canal site, using 75 kW iron flow batteries from U.S. manufacturer ESS…