A first-of-its-kind pilot project to build solar canopies across irrigation canals in California has completed construction. Project Nexus provides 1.6 MW of renewable power along several sections of the Turlock Immigration District (TID). The system includes an iron-flow battery energy storage system with a 75 kW capacity.
While generating electricity for surrounding areas, Project Nexu also offers the dual benefits of reducing water evaporation and minimizing land use for the installation.
Project Nexus
The $20 million Project Nexus was developed through a public-private partnership between the California Department of Water Resources, Turlock Immigration District, Solar AquaGrid, and the University of California, Merced (UC Merced). The project aimed to help California better manage water resources while simultaneously expanding clean energy production.
In 2021, a UC Merced study suggested that covering all 4,000 miles of California’s irrigation canals with solar panels could generate sizeable water, energy, and cost savings for the state. The potential for the project to reduce water loss from evaporation before it reaches end users is especially promising as California faces hotter, drier days…