California’s Project Nexus is testing solar canopies built directly over irrigation canals

 

California’s Project Nexus is testing solar canopies built directly over irrigation canals, transforming existing water infrastructure into clean energy without using additional land. The panels shade the water, reducing evaporation, while cooler conditions improve solar efficiency.

The electricity generated feeds into the local grid through irrigation districts, creating a dual benefit system. Researchers at University of California, Merced estimate that expanding this approach statewide could save about 63 billion gallons of water each year, enough for more than two million people.

By solving water conservation and energy production together, the project highlights how smarter infrastructure can address multiple challenges at once. It raises a broader question about how cities might rethink existing systems for greater resilience.

Source: Project Nexus studies and UC Merced research estimates.

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