Join us as the water, energy, and climate changes around us.
We curate important info related to our technology application - things like technology breakthroughs, news about the various drought and climate situations, and government policy’s that mandate changes and make funding available. We post as we learn these things ourselves, so if you want to stay in the know as much as we do just follow along! This blog will also serve as an update on Watts on Water!
Videos
Articles
Analysis: India has implemented the first large scale versions of “canal-top solar”. These project include over 40 km of instillations producing more thank 100MW of renewable energy, while retaining and cleaning their limited water supply, and saving acres of land needed for above ground systems. They have also shown that cleaning panels above canals means even more savings over traditional solar.
Analysis: From $5M of funding provided by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation the first canal-top solar project in the U.S. has commissioned and turned on power in Oct. 2024. This is a huge milestone for the industry, and there will be at least 3 follow on pilot projects from the BOR in the next couple years. This project’s successful deployment proves the feasibility of the technology and its performance over the next few years, along with the follow on projects, will provide metrics determining the long term benefits of the systems. Ultimately this will dictate the future of the industry.
Congratulations to all who were involved in deploying this system!
Papers
Analysis: Researchers of the UC system have published the most prominent, full length study on “canal top solar” in California. Their hard work has generated credible and substantial quantifications of the water savings, energy production, and carbon reduction associated with the water resources of the state. This research is the guiding light for companies like us who are pushing this technology into reality.
Analysis: Ben Lepley of Tectonicus, the mind behind the design of the first canal project in the U.S., recently published an article detailing much of the process challenges and benefits of deploying canal top-solar in Irrigation Leader.