Solar that saves water
The California Solar Canal Initiative: exploring what it would take to install solar panels over 4,000 miles of open canals—and help Californians save water, energy, and money.
USC Launched 2025
Share this page
Impact
Implementing solar canals at scale could produce more clean energy and save more water that farmers and all Californians rely on. Here’s what it could look like if California installs all 4,000 miles of solar panels.
63 B gallons of water saved per year—enough for 2M people
13 GW generated—enough to power 2M homes per year
Challenge
The State of California needs to meet its 100% clean energy goal by 2045—while also preparing for a 10% drop in water supply by 2040 due to severe droughts and less water coming in from the Colorado River. With longer heatwaves straining the power grid and droughts worsening every year, we stepped up to see if solar canals could be the solution.
Our Plan
We’re figuring out what happens when you install solar panels over canals—how much water it could save, how much energy it could create, and the impact on surrounding communities. We’re also looking at the costs, permitting and regulations, and what it would take to scale the project statewide. With state officials, Solar AquaGrid, and researchers from seven universities, we’re delivering the insights leaders need to act with confidence.
Project Goals
Gather real-world data
We’re studying California’s first solar canal and evaluating costs, regulations, and community impacts to deliver recommendations that drive statewide solutions.
Create a new way to measure local impact
We’re developing a framework to show how solar canals affect surrounding communities and ensure benefits are shared locally.
Help leaders take action
We’re building a decision-making dashboard that guides the state to the highest-impact sites for solar canals.
Approach
We’re analyzing the costs and benefits while digging deep into land use, energy, and water regulations to develop a comprehensive recommendation for state leaders.
Spatial Analysis
Impact Valuation
Qualitative & Quantitative Data Collection
Community and Customer Engagement
“We are excited to see top research institutions come together to help deploy solar panels over water canals…Science-driven collaborations like this one are critical to guide our path forward.”
Secretary Wade Crowfoot, CA Natural Resources Agency
Recent Updates
Push to save trees damaged by the Eaton Fire
Ahead of Olympics, ShadeLA to expand shade across city
Can we turn our water infrastructure into a climate solution?
New team will brainstorm ways to provide more shade in L.A. ahead of major events
Related Projects
- USC
Making sense of climate change graphics
Assessing how well the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) graphics are understood by the policymakers who rely on them—so that critical science can be clearer, more usable, and more actionable.
- USC
Greening L.A.’s hottest streets
Bringing more trees, shade, and fresh air to L.A. by mapping where, what kind, and how many trees to plant for the biggest impact.
- USC
Tracking climate stories on screen
Tracking how climate stories impact the TV and film industry—and how they shape audience perceptions of climate change.