Thread

What California is learning from solar panels built over irrigation canals

372 points · 744 comments · Jtsummers

nbf_1995 · 1790086541 · focus · HN ↗
It seems like it would be more effective to simply put all the solar panels in a field, and construct a cheap shade over the entire canal no? The supports in the picture are massive and don't look cheap. Also I would imagine the solar array uses more copper than a similar capacity array just built in a field. You can't daisy chain multiple miles of solar panels together, so you need an extra power line to run alongside the whole thing.
Put the solar panels in a field: The solar array uses less copper. The shade supports don't have to hold up solar panels: Shade supports cost less.
The best reasoning they give is that California has insane permitting requirements, and it takes 1/6 the time to build on developed land compared to undeveloped land.
1. ch4s3 · 1790109461 · focus · HN ↗
  Or better yet, invest in pipes.
  1. annoyingnoob · 1790109765 · focus · HN ↗
    According to AI, that pipe would only need to be 43 Feet in diameter, only 43 feet wide. Pretty sure they have that at Home Depot.
    bluGill · 1790170136 · focus · HN ↗
    You wouldn't do it that way. You would have several 10 foot diameter pipes (which they already make, and are small enough to fit on a truck). That way when one pipe has a problem you can shut it off an still get most of your flow. A lot more expensive than an open canal though.
    annoyingnoob · 1790219059 · focus · HN ↗
    <a href="https://wonderfulengineering.com/world-record-underwater-shield-tunnel-completed-in-china/" rel="nofollow">https://wonderfulengineering.com/world-record-underwater-shi...
    bluGill · 1790248222 · focus · HN ↗
    Congratulations for their stunt. That doesn't mean anyone else should follow that though. There are lots of disadvantages to large tunnels and large pipes and so I would still recommend for most that a different path should be taken.
    As an engineer and expert on this though, I'm not an expert. I've looked into it just enough to know that I would expect that it would just not be worth it, but maybe I'm wrong for your case
    annoyingnoob · 1790263398 · focus · HN ↗
    > it would just not be worth it
    That is my entire point. Even with many smaller pipes it has not been worth it. A big trench is just more affordable and covering it is probably a better option than replacing it.

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