05/08/2026
Brownsville Texas City Govt Breathing hard
A pilot project in California has shown that installing solar panels over irrigation canals can significantly reduce water evaporation and algae growth, while generating clean electricity at the same time. The results point to a dual use infrastructure model that could be particularly useful in water stressed agricultural regions.
The project, developed through a partnership involving the California Department of Water Resources, Turlock Irrigation District, Solar AquaGrid, and University of California, Merced, tested a 1.6 megawatt solar installation built directly above active canals. Early findings were published following a full irrigation season, as reported by pv magazine.
Measurements from the pilot show that covering canals with solar panels reduced water evaporation by between 50 percent and 70 percent. At the same time, algae growth dropped by around 85 percent. Both outcomes have practical implications for water management, including lower maintenance costs and improved water quality.
