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

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Redlining map of Oakland and Berkeley.

Rethinking Redlining

For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

May 15, 2025 - Alan Mallach

Interior of Place Versailles mall in Montreal, Canada.

Montreal Mall to Become 6,000 Housing Units

Place Versailles will be transformed into a mixed-use complex over the next 25 years.

May 22, 2025 - CBC

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.

May 21, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Line of RVs being used as homes parked on street in Mountain View, California.

Seattle Safe Parking Site to Close, Relocate

A nonprofit leases lots during permitting stages to erect tiny homes and RV safe parking sites for unhoused residents. But the model means constant uncertainty and displacement.

May 25 - The Seattle Times

Orange Los Angeles Metro bus passing on blurred street at night.

LA ‘Mobility Wallet’ Increased Quality of Life for Participants

The city distributed a monthly $150 transportation subsidy to 1,000 low-income Angelenos. It dramatically improved their lives.

May 25 - KTLA

White Shinkansen high-speed rail train passing on bridge over pond in Japan.

Texas, California Rail Projects Seek Out Private Funding

In the wake of Trump’s cuts to high-speed rail projects, rail authorities are looking to private-public partnerships to supplement their budgets.

May 25 - Smart Cities Dive