It's a bit counterintuitive given that California has been hit by a series of massive hurricanes, but technically most of the state is still in a drought.
The problem is expected to worsen in the long term due to climate change as higher average temperatures increase evaporation. Take, for example, California's extensive system of open canals that transport water from reservoirs to farmland and urban areas. Scientists at the University of California calculate that waterways lose tens of billions of gallons each year through evaporation.
However, the new project aims to protect streams from the heat and sun, and to line the state with solar panels to meet its renewable energy goals.
California offers more than 700 miles of water. Most of the state's water comes from the northern half, but most of it is used in the southern half. So scientists at the University of California are investigating the idea of installing solar panels on these channels.
"We estimate that if we put solar panels on 4,000 miles of open channels in California, we could save 6.5 billion gallons of water per year," said Brandi McQueen, lead author of the research report. "This is enough for the needs of 2 million people's families, enough to irrigate 50,000 hectares of agricultural land."
The Tulak Irrigation District in California's Central Valley is testing a pilot project two miles from the canals.
Ten years ago, solar panels were installed on canals in India. These initial efforts helped to understand what not to do; Don't use expensive, bulky metal that rots over time and is difficult to transport and clean.
"So our structures are wire rope hangers and at least 50% less material and 50% less weight," said Jordan Harris, co-founder of Solar Aquagrid, responsible for installing the first project in California.
Another advantage of solar waves. Sunscreen prevents plant growth and saves Turlock weeding costs.
Los Angeles recently decided to use the benefits of the Turlock project to line the Los Angeles Aqueduct. Arash Sadidi of the Department of Water and Power said at a Los Angeles City Council meeting that panels on cold water are more efficient at generating energy than panels on a garage or desert sand. "The advantage here is that we can increase production," he said.
However, solar panels on the canal have their drawbacks. "Setup costs are high," he said. This means that installing the panel on water is more expensive than on land. Another problem is that it is not easy to transmit the electricity generated by solar panels in the desert.
"This is 62 miles. "If we make a 62-mile cable, you will experience high (power) losses, especially at low voltages," said Saidi.
The solution is to feed energy from solar panels to the houses near the canals so that it does not spread so far.
It's unclear when Los Angeles will see water on the pipeline, but the Tullock Irrigation District is expected to begin work on the project in the coming months.
