10/15/2026
One Idea, Two Benefits: California’s Solar Canals Could Produce Power While Reducing Water Loss
California could turn its 4,000 miles of water canals into solar power corridors. A 2021 study estimated that covering them with solar panels could generate around 13 gigawatts of electricity.
The panels could also reduce ev***ration, potentially saving 63 billion gallons of water annually, while using existing canal space instead of extra land.
The idea offers two benefits—clean energy and water conservation—but the estimates would need real-world testing to confirm the full impact.
Sources: UC Merced, UC Santa Cruz, Nature Sustainability (2021).
