Arizona Tribes Pioneer Floating Solar to Combat Colorado River Crisis
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📰 The quick summary: The Gila River Indian Community plans to install floating solar panels on a reservoir in Arizona, combining renewable energy generation with water conservation in the drought-stricken Colorado River Basin.
📈 One key stat: Floating solar panels on federally owned reservoirs could generate enough electricity to power 100 million US homes annually, helping address both energy needs and water conservation in drought-affected regions.
💬 One key quote: “Do we know for a fact that this is going to be 100 percent effective and foolproof? No, but we’re not going to know until we try,” said David DeJong, GRIC’s project director for its irrigation district.
1️⃣ The big picture: The Gila River Indian Community in Arizona is pioneering water conservation technology by planning to install floating solar panels on a new reservoir. This innovative approach aims to reduce water evaporation while simultaneously generating clean electricity in the drought-stricken Southwest. Their project comes at a critical time for the Colorado River Basin, where consumption regularly exceeds supply and climate change has worsened drought conditions. While floating solar technology has been deployed widely in Asia, it remains relatively uncommon in the US despite its potential to address both energy and water challenges in the West.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: This dual-purpose technology tackles two pressing challenges simultaneously – water conservation and clean energy production. By covering water with solar panels, evaporation decreases, preserving precious water resources in drought-affected regions. The panels can generate significant renewable electricity while requiring no additional land use, an important benefit in areas where land development is contentious. For hydroelectric dams, floating solar could reduce the need to release water solely for power generation, allowing more efficient water management. The technology also inspires a new generation of tribal members to pursue innovative environmental solutions, creating a model for other communities across the West.
3️⃣ What’s next: GRIC plans to break ground on the floating solar project in September, with the West Side Reservoir expected to be completed by the end of July. They aim to cover nearly 60% of the lake’s surface with floating panels to study their effectiveness. The community will continue monitoring how canal-mounted panels affect water and solar efficiency while working toward their goal of powering all canal and irrigation operations with solar electricity.
Read the full story here: Inside Climate News – Gila River Tribes Intend to Float Solar Panels on a Reservoir. Could the Technology Help the Colorado River?
