California solar on canals initiative moves forward
The California Solar Canal Initiative (CSCI) aims to increase the number of solar installations on California’s canals. The initiative is led by the University of Southern California (USC) Dornsife Public Exchange and independent advisory Solar AquaGrid, and includes faculty from seven universities, six of which are in California. A 2021 study conducted by researchers from University of California, Merced, found that covering large sections of California’s 4,000 miles of canals with arrays of solar panels could help conserve water, reduce air pollution, save land and generate clean energy using existing land and infrastructure.
Related articles:
- University of Southern California: News release: ‘Solar canals’: Bright solution for California’s water, energy needs?
- San Jose State University: News release: SJSU joins California Solar Canal Initiative
- Sol Price School of Public Policy: News release: Price researchers join ambitious solar canal research project
