The US is about to get its first solar-covered canal

Eric Wesoff | Source: Canary Media | Posted 07/10/2024

The first canal-based solar project in the U.S. is nearing completion on tribal lands south of Phoenix, Arizona. With this plan, “we’ve passed those savings on to the ratepayers and prevented a huge amount of CO2 from warming our atmosphere, all without bulldozing vast tracts of the Sonoran Desert.” While this just-imagined market is still at the pilot stage, the math suggests the potential is much bigger. Covering the entire 8,000 miles of canals and waterways managed by the Bureau of Reclamation with solar panels could generate over 25 gigawatts of renewable energy and reduce water evaporation by tens of billions of gallons, according to a letter sent to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and Bureau Commissioner Camille Touton in 2023 by a coalition of more than 100 climate and environmental groups.

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The first canal-based solar project in the U.S. is nearing completion on tribal lands south of Phoenix, Arizona. Native Americans have long used canals to irrigate the Gila River Valley, and now a solar energy project on the Pima and Maricopa tribes' land aims to harness the power of these canals for renewable energy generation.

Placing solar panels over canals could create a significant source of clean energy with lower environmental impact compared to large-scale solar farms. This innovative concept, inspired by a similar project in India, is being led by engineering firm Tectonicus. While the technology presents unique challenges in terms of building requirements, early studies suggest it could lead to increased power production and reduced evaporation, offering a promising approach to sustainable energy generation.

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The US is about to get its first solar-covered canal

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