[ExI] First California solar canal project

[BillK]

First solar canal project is a win for water, energy, air and climate
in California
February 22, 2022
Roger Bales
Distinguished Professor of Engineering, University of California, Merced

<https://theconversation.com/first-solar-canal-project-is-a-win-for-water-energy-air-and-climate-in-california-177433>

Quotes:
About 4,000 miles of canals transport water to some 35 million
Californians and 5.7 million acres of farmland across the state. As we
explained in a 2021 study, covering these canals with solar panels
would reduce evaporation of precious water – one of California’s most
critical resources – and help meet the state’s renewable energy goals,
while also saving money.

Installing solar panels over the canals makes both systems more
efficient. The solar panels would reduce evaporation from the canals,
especially during hot California summers. And because water heats up
more slowly than land, the canal water flowing beneath the panels
could cool them by 10 F, boosting production of electricity by up to
3%.

Turlock Irrigation District, in California’s San Joaquin Valley, will
build the first solar canal prototype in partnership with project
developer Solar Aquagrid, researchers and others and supported by the
state Department of Water Resources.
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Sounds like a good idea!
One possible downside (not mentioned in the article) is that in the UK
canals and rivers support a very large summer holiday boating leisure
industry. Sometimes there are so many hire cruisers on the canals that
traffic jams occur.  Perhaps Californians don't do river cruising,
with stops at convenient riverside bars.  :)
Covering the canals with solar panels would make that impossible.

BillK