One study estimates that covering California's canals with solar panels could generate enough energy to power Los Angeles for most of the year.
  • AA5B@lemmy.world
    42·
    11 months ago

    I don’t entirely get it. Wouldn’t it be more effective and also easier, cheaper, more maintainable to build a pipeline, with solar panels in the right of way?

    • LilB0kChoy
      7·
      11 months ago

      From the linked article:

      The idea is simple: install solar panels over canals in sunny, water-scarce regions where they reduce evaporation and make electricity.

      A study by the University of California, Merced gives a boost to the idea, estimating that 63 billion gallons of water could be saved by covering California’s 6,437 kilometres of canals with solar panels that could also generate 13 gigawatts of power. That’s enough for the entire city of Los Angeles from January until early October.