California to Cover Irrigation Canals with Solar Panels, Solving Two Crises at Once
Affiliate Disclosure
Hey fellow impactful ninja ?
You may have noticed that Impactful Ninja is all about providing helpful information to make a positive impact on the world and society. And that we love to link back to where we found all the information for each of our posts.
Most of these links are informational-based for you to check out their primary sources with one click.
But some of these links are so-called "affiliate links" to products that we recommend.
Why do we add these product links?
First and foremost, because we believe that they add value to you. For example, when we wrote a post about the environmental impact of long showers, we came across an EPA recommendation to use WaterSense showerheads. So we linked to where you can find them. Or, for many of our posts, we also link to our favorite books on that topic so that you can get a much more holistic overview than one single blog post could provide.
And when there is an affiliate program for these products, we sign up for it. For example, as Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases.
What do these affiliate links mean for you?
First, and most importantly, we still only recommend products that we believe add value for you.
When you buy something through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a small commission - but at no additional costs to you.
And when you buy something through a link that is not an affiliate link, we won’t receive any commission but we’ll still be happy to have helped you.
What do these affiliate links mean for us?
When we find products that we believe add value to you and the seller has an affiliate program, we sign up for it.
When you buy something through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a small commission (at no extra costs to you).
And at this point in time, all money is reinvested in sharing the most helpful content with you. This includes all operating costs for running this site and the content creation itself.
What does this mean for me personally?
You may have noticed by the way Impactful Ninja is operated that money is not the driving factor behind it. It is a passion project of mine and I love to share helpful information with you to make a positive impact on the world and society. However, it's a project in that I invest a lot of time and also quite some money.
Eventually, my dream is to one day turn this passion project into my full-time job and provide even more helpful information. But that's still a long time to go.
Stay impactful,
At Impactful Ninja, we curate positive and impactful news for you. Follow us on Google News or sign up for our free newsletter to get these delivered straight to your inbox—just like our expert roundup below!
📰 The quick summary: California plans to cover its irrigation canals with solar panels, simultaneously generating renewable energy while preventing water evaporation to address both energy and water challenges.
📈 One key stat: The solar panels over rivers can increase energy efficiency by up to 3% compared to conventional land-based systems, providing significant performance benefits.
💬 One key quote: “The idea is simple: use the infrastructure we already have to solve two problems at once. It’s clean energy and water conservation without competing with agricultural land,” California Governor Gavin Newsom explains.
1️⃣ The big picture: California is launching an innovative project to install solar panels over irrigation canals throughout the state. This dual-purpose initiative aims to generate renewable energy while simultaneously preventing water evaporation from these critical waterways. The first test will take place in the Delta-Mendota canal in Merced County, with an initial investment of $19 million. This approach could revolutionize how regions facing both energy and water challenges can maximize existing infrastructure for multiple benefits.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: The project tackles two pressing challenges simultaneously – renewable energy production and water conservation – without requiring additional land use. By preventing evaporation in drought-prone California, valuable water resources will be preserved for agriculture and communities. The cooling effect of water on the solar panels increases their efficiency by up to 3% compared to traditional land-based installations. This model could inspire similar approaches in other regions worldwide that face comparable challenges with water scarcity and energy needs.
3️⃣ What’s next: The initial test will begin in the Delta-Mendota canal using floating or fixed structures to support the solar panels without impeding water flow. Of the $19 million investment, $15 million will focus on research and technology development. Success in this pilot phase could lead to expanded implementation across more of California’s extensive canal system.
Read the full story here: Ecoticias – One state will cover its rivers — It’s the biggest project to ‘absorb’ the Sun ever seen
