Study looks at covering California’s canals with solar panels - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

cmac2012 · #1 03-31-2021, 05:36 PM

https://www.hcn.org/articles/climate-desk-fresh-tech-idea-cover-californias-canals-with-solar-panels?fbclid=IwAR3In7RQeUtJ4yXKzvLqzvlp-8qO7kb5r0BKSme68Rj9bmGrfAFiu-VhIOw

Sounds like a potentially great idea:

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What if instead of leaving canals open, letting the sun evaporate the water away, we covered them with panels that would both shade the precious liquid and hoover up solar energy? Maybe humanity can go for that.

Scientists in California just ran the numbers on what would happen if their state slapped solar panels on 4,000 miles of its canals, including the major California Aqueduct, and the results point to a potentially beautiful partnership. Their feasibility study, published in the journal Nature Sustainability, finds that if applied statewide, the panels would save 63 billion gallons of water from evaporating each year. At the same time, solar panels across California’s exposed canals would provide 13 gigawatts of renewable power annually, about half of the new capacity the state needs to meet its decarbonization goals by the year 2030.

California’s water conveyance system is the world’s largest, serving 35 million people and 5.7 million acres of farmland. Seventy-five percent of available water is in the northern third of the state, while the bottom two-thirds of the state accounts for 80% of urban and agricultural demand. Shuttling all that water around requires pumps to make it flow uphill; accordingly, the water system is the state’s largest single consumer of electricity.

Solar-paneling canals would not only produce renewable energy for use across the state, it would run the water system itself. “By covering canals with solar panels, we can reduce evaporation and avoid disturbing natural and working lands, while providing renewable energy and other co-benefits,” says environmental engineer Brandi McKuin of the University of California, Merced, and the University of California, Santa Cruz, lead author on the paper.

Ironically enough, the performance of solar panels falls as temperatures rise. In a solar cell, photons from the sun knock electrons out of atoms, producing an electric current. When a panel gets too hot, that puts electrons into an already excited state, so they don’t create as much energy when dislodged by photons. Spanning panels over canals would, in a sense, make them water-cooled, boosting their efficiency. “And additionally,” McKuin adds, “shade from the panels mitigates aquatic weed growth, which is a major canal maintenance issue.”

tjts1 · #2 03-31-2021, 06:22 PM

I'm looking forward to seeing how the MAGAtards poo poo this idea.

speednjay · #3 03-31-2021, 10:18 PM

Water will still evaporate shaded.

Autoputzer · #4 04-01-2021, 12:24 AM

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Originally Posted by tjts1

I'm looking forward to seeing how the MAGAtards poo poo this idea.

I think that's a great idea... as long as Californians pay for it.

I worked at a Navy lab here in Floriduh. They applied for a funding for a pilot program to install solar panels above the parking lots. it would generate electricity for our electric vehicles and provide shade for the employees' cars. I suspect the risk from hurricane damage here in Floriduh put the lab way down the priority list. So, it never happened.

Our next house will face almost due-north. It will be in Tennessee, at just about the same latitude as the angle of an 8:12 pitch roof. So, it will be the perfect house for having the whole back roof covered in solar panels. With OPM (other people's money) from the tax credit, it will be cost effective.

I'm not sure how solar panels hold up to hail, though. We've never had any here, but 100 miles away, BMW of Bubbaville had a bunch of new cars totaled.

Tony H · #5 04-01-2021, 12:49 AM

I think in theory it's a good idea but to implement it would be difficult and costly. It would require structures several hundred feet wide and hundreds of miles long and the resulting electrical transmission system to service it all. To use exclusive solar power for pumping stations would be difficult as the load is as high as 9,500,000 MWh even at night. Here is an excerpt from the Ca DWR:

The California State Water Project (SWP) supplies water to an almost 27 million Californians and 750,000 acres of farmland. It spans more than 705 miles from Northern California to Southern California and includes 36 storage facilities, 21 pumping plants, five hydroelectric power plants, four pumping-generating plants, and approximately 700 miles of canals, tunnels, and pipelines.

cmac2012 · #6 04-01-2021, 03:08 AM

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Originally Posted by speednjay

Water will still evaporate shaded.

Yes but I suspect it will be at a lower rate.

cmac2012 · #7 04-01-2021, 03:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony H

I think in theory it's a good idea but to implement it would be difficult and costly. It would require structures several hundred feet wide and hundreds of miles long and the resulting electrical transmission system to service it all. To use exclusive solar power for pumping stations would be difficult as the load is as high as 9,500,000 MWh even at night. Here is an excerpt from the Ca DWR:

The California State Water Project (SWP) supplies water to an almost 27 million Californians and 750,000 acres of farmland. It spans more than 705 miles from Northern California to Southern California and includes 36 storage facilities, 21 pumping plants, five hydroelectric power plants, four pumping-generating plants, and approximately 700 miles of canals, tunnels, and pipelines.

Good points, would be a sort of expensive installation per square foot. But could have promise in select locations.

Capt. Mike · #8 04-01-2021, 10:11 AM

Apple will be using Tesla megapack batteries on its CA solar array.

I think Cali should pilot this idea. Put it up over a segment of its widest aqueduct, run it for 10 miles or so, and slap a mega pack right there and see how feasible the whole thing is.

You really learn a lot from pilot programs.

Cali can insist on American-manufactured panels and battery packs.

sloride · #9 04-01-2021, 10:15 AM

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Originally Posted by tjts1

I'm looking forward to seeing how the MAGAtards poo poo this idea.

Gavin would buy those solar panels from Jina, feeding the CCP.

Angel · #10 04-01-2021, 10:18 AM

what about all of the road racing that happens there ?

sloride · #11 04-01-2021, 10:19 AM

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Originally Posted by cmac2012

Yes but I suspect it will be at a lower rate.

Might actually add to it. Same evaporation from the wind, possible increased evaporation from heat absorbed by the panels covering them, and less rainfall entering directly because they are now covered.

sloride · #12 04-01-2021, 10:23 AM

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Originally Posted by speednjay

Water will still evaporate shaded.

Lake Michigan has the highest rate of increase if it freezes over in winter. It evaporates more with the wind during winter if it does not freeze.

INSIDIOUS · #13 04-01-2021, 10:38 AM

No sailboats

sloride · #14 04-01-2021, 10:40 AM

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Originally Posted by INSIDIOUS

No sailboats

pj67coll · #15 04-01-2021, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony H

I think in theory it's a good idea but to implement it would be difficult and costly. It would require structures several hundred feet wide and hundreds of miles long and the resulting electrical transmission system to service it all. To use exclusive solar power for pumping stations would be difficult as the load is as high as 9,500,000 MWh even at night. Here is an excerpt from the Ca DWR:

The California State Water Project (SWP) supplies water to an almost 27 million Californians and 750,000 acres of farmland. It spans more than 705 miles from Northern California to Southern California and includes 36 storage facilities, 21 pumping plants, five hydroelectric power plants, four pumping-generating plants, and approximately 700 miles of canals, tunnels, and pipelines.

Should be a good jobs program for the US. You don't need to use the panels for exclusive pumping in order for it to be a plus. Tie them into the grid and have them contribute to the overall energy supply.

- Peter.