California’s new solar panels do MORE than generate power

In the middle of California's Central Valley, a new way to use solar panels could change how we think about clean energy and water. It’s a simple idea that people have talked about for decades, but only now is it finally being tested in real life.

To understand what’s going on, we went out to the Central Valley and spoke with @UCMerced's Brandi McKuin, whose study set this whole project into motion.

*FEATURING:*
Brandi McKuin, Project Scientist, UC Merced

*READ MORE:*
- Solar-panel-covered canals have their day in the sun: https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/solar-panel-covered-canals-have-their-day-sun-california?utm_source=youtube-fig1&utm_medium=social-organic&utm_campaign=fig-1&utm_content=video

*CITATIONS:*
- Project Nexus: https://www.tid.org/current-projects/project-nexus/
- Ember electricity data explorer: https://ember-energy.org/data/us-electricity-data-explorer/
- 2 Terawatt milestone achieved: https://www.solarpowereurope.org/press-releases/global-solar-council-announces-2-terawatt-milestone-achieved-for-solar-1
- Innovations have led to cheaper solar panels: https://news.mit.edu/2025/surprisingly-diverse-innovations-led-to-dramatically-cheaper-solar-panels-0811
- California agriculture production statistics: https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/statistics/
- California agriculture production statistics: https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/statistics/
- Solar panels over canals can save water for 50,000 acres of farmland: https://news.ucmerced.edu/news/2021/solar-panels-over-canals-can-save-money-energy-and-water-study-shows
- California's first solar-covered canals: https://grist.org/energy/californias-first-solar-covered-canal-is-now-fully-online/
- Farmer's guide to going solar: https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/farmers-guide-going-solar
- Best crops that thrive under solar panels: https://growingsolarmist.com/best-crops-that-thrive-under-solar-panels/
- Agrivoltaic projects in China: https://www.pv-magazine.com/2020/09/03/giant-agrivoltaic-project-in-china/
- Solar panels on water reservoirs: https://www.wired.com/story/solar-panels-floating-in-reservoirs-well-drink-to-that/
- End of life management for photovoltaics: https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/end-life-management-solar-photovoltaics
- Gila River Community breaks ground on solar canal project: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/clean-energy-native-american-gila-river-b2462895.html

#solar #solarenergy #solarpower #cleanenergy #california #technews #tech

*CHAPTERS:*
00:00 The solar energy boom
01:21 California's water system
01:49 What is Project Nexus?
03:16 The wide span and the narrow span
04:00 Saving California farmland
04:49 Solar energy in different built environments
05:26 More creative ways to use solar
06:12 Design challenges
07:03 The Gila River Solar Canal Project
07:51 UC Merced research and testing

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