Last year, American scientists published a feasibility study on the benefits of building solar panels over water channels, and now it is known that California is implementing a Nexus pilot project, which will install solar panels over two channels in the Turlock Irrigation District to collect energy.
According to available data, the California authorities have allocated $20 million to the Nexus project. The construction of new power capacity over the canals is scheduled to begin in October this year. Solar panels will be available over a 150-metre-long canal in Hickman. Similarly, panels will be placed over a 1.6-kilometre canal flight in another part of the state.
," says Josh Wimer, manager of Turlock Water & Power.
California ' s canals are about 6,500 km long. If they are all covered with solar panels, 13 gigawatts of renewable energy will be produced. It is noted that 1 gigawatt is sufficient to feed 750,000 households.