1.6 MW Solar Plus Storage Project on California Canal Top to Begin Operation in August 2025

en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Nexus solar project, built atop canals of the Turlock Irrigation District (TID) in California, USA, has been completed and is now operational. With an installed capacity of 1.6 megawatts and a state-funded investment of $20 million, the project is considered a demonstration model for agricultural regions under water stress. The two sites, covering canal sections 30 meters and 6 meters wide respectively, both began full operation in August 2025.

As a proof of concept, the Nexus project aims to study the design, implementation, and co-benefits of solar panels atop canals. It leverages TID's infrastructure and grid access, marking the first U.S. collaboration of its kind among public, private, and academic sectors. At the narrower canal site, a 75-kilowatt iron flow battery energy storage system manufactured by U.S. company ESS was installed. Each ESS container delivers a peak energy capacity of 400 kilowatt-hours and a lifespan exceeding 20,000 cycles. The unit weighs 41.9 tons, with dimensions of 12 meters by 2.4 meters by 2.9 meters, and its electrolyte system is fully recyclable, relying on recycled iron components and brine.

The University of California, Merced has deployed research equipment at both sites to collect baseline data. While the water savings from evaporation reduction for the Nexus project remain unclear, a study by the University of California estimates that covering 4,000 kilometers of canals in California could save 63 billion gallons of water annually—enough to irrigate 50,000 acres of farmland or supply over 2 million residents. TID is also investigating potential water quality improvements due to reduced vegetation.

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