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    California Irrigation District project pairing Solar with ESS Storage to unite Clean Energy and Water Conservation

    Feb. 14, 2023
    The Turlock Irrigation District’s Project Nexus is aiming for clean energy generation over the canals in an increasingly arid California, the recent rains notwithstanding
    Image credit TID
    Turlock Irrigation District Canal 63ec1c01eb869

    Utility-scale iron flow battery manufacturer ESS Inc. will deliver two of its Energy Warehouse systems to pair with solar power installation supporting water conservation and delivery in agriculture-rich central California.

    The Turlock Irrigation District will utilize its first-ever installation of solar panels with the ESS energy storage system for long duration battery deployment. The Turlock Irrigation District’s Project Nexus is aiming for clean energy generation over the canals in an increasingly arid California, the recent rains notwithstanding.

    The project will shade the canals with solar panels, which will also keep the water cooler and reduce evaporative losses.

    “Long-duration energy storage is the key that will enable Project Nexus to not only conserve water and generate renewable energy, but provide on-demand, clean power 24/7,” said Hugh McDermott, ESS senior vice president, business development and sales. “This project addresses multiple climate challenges at once and is the kind of innovative approach that will build a climate-resilient future. We look forward to delivering a solution that can be replicated across California and other drought-prone areas.”

    The state of California is providing funding for the project. A recent study by the University of California at Merced estimated that some 13 GW of solar capacity could be installed above the state’s irrigation canals and, paired with 3 GW energy storage could achieve both decarbonization and water conservation goals.

    Project Nexus is expected to be complete in 2024.

    About the Author

    EnergyTech Staff

    Rod Walton is senior editor for EnergyTech.com. He has spent 14 years covering the energy industry as a newspaper and trade journalist.

    Walton formerly was energy writer and business editor at the Tulsa World. Later, he spent six years covering the electricity power sector for Pennwell and Clarion Events. He joined Endeavor and EnergyTech in November 2021.

    He can be reached at [email protected]. 

    EnergyTech is focused on the mission critical and large-scale energy users and their sustainability and resiliency goals. These include the commercial and industrial sectors, as well as the military, universities, data centers and microgrids.

    Many large-scale energy users such as Fortune 500 companies, and mission-critical users such as military bases, universities, healthcare facilities, public safety and data centers, shifting their energy priorities to reach net-zero carbon goals within the coming decades. These include plans for renewable energy power purchase agreements, but also on-site resiliency projects such as microgrids, combined heat and power, rooftop solar, energy storage, digitalization and building efficiency upgrades.