California's Canal Solar Projects Aim to Conserve Resources and Expand Clean Energy

California’s Project Nexus has begun generating electricity from solar panels installed over irrigation canals, with researchers and state agencies exploring statewide expansion to conserve water and boost clean energy production.

2 minute read

April 3, 2025, 10:00 AM PDT

By Clement Lau


Aerial view of Claifornia aqueduct with green orchard on one side.

Javani LLC / Adobe Stock

Project Nexus, California’s first solar-over-canal initiative, has begun producing electricity through solar panels installed above irrigation canals managed by the Turlock Irrigation District (TID). The pilot project, a collaboration between TID, Solar AquaGrid, UC Merced, and the California Department of Water Resources, is part of a broader effort to scale clean energy while conserving water and utilizing existing infrastructure. A UC Merced study published in Nature Sustainability found that placing solar panels over the state’s 4,000 miles of canals could generate enough electricity for 2 million homes, conserve a similar amount of water, and reduce the need for land-consuming solar farms.

As the pilot progresses with both narrow- and wide-span systems under development, the California Solar Canal Initiative (CSCI) is working to expand this concept statewide. Led by USC Dornsife’s Public Exchange and Solar AquaGrid, the CSCI is evaluating optimal canal locations, engaging potential host communities, and collaborating with a diverse team of researchers from several universities. The initiative is supported by a broad advisory council and state agencies, aiming to make the findings actionable and accelerate implementation across California.

The potential benefits of solar canal systems extend beyond power generation and water savings. By shading canals, these systems could reduce weed and algae growth, lower maintenance costs, and improve panel efficiency due to the cooling effect of water. The approach also avoids converting undeveloped land, preserving up to 50,000 acres of habitat. Amid California’s climate extremes—swinging between floods and drought—officials stress the importance of integrated solutions that support both water and energy resilience while contributing to climate goals.

Friday, March 28, 2025 in Turlock Journal

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Wastewater pouring out from a pipe.

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage

Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

April 13, 2025 - Inside Climate News

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

5 hours ago - Diana Ionescu

Black and white photos of camp made up of small 'earthquake shacks' in Dolores Park in 1906 after the San Francisco earthquake.

The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees

More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?

April 15, 2025 - Charles F. Bloszies

Looking out at trees on 4th Street in downtown Los Angeles, California.

LA’s Tree Emergency Goes Beyond Vandalism

After a vandal destroyed dozens of downtown LA trees, Mayor Karen Bass vowed to replace them. Days later, she slashed the city’s tree budget.

2 hours ago - Torched

White and blue Sacramento regional transit bus with one bike on front bike rack.

Sacramento Leads Nation With Bus-Mounted Bike Lane Enforcement Cameras

The city is the first to use its bus-mounted traffic enforcement system to cite drivers who park or drive in bike lanes.

2 hours ago - Streetsblog California

View of downtown Seattle with Space Needle and mountains in background

Seattle Voters Approve Social Housing Referendum

Voters approved a corporate tax to fund the city’s housing authority despite an opposition campaign funded by Amazon and Microsoft.

4 hours ago - Next City