Solar farms demand a lot of water, a resource that is stretched very thin in the arid areas where they're being developed. A large solar farm can use upwards of 500 million gallons of water a year for cooling purposes and there are currently 35 big projects slated for development in California desert.
A "dry cooling" technique exists that uses 90 percent less water than "wet cooling," but it's more expensive and reduces the efficiency of the solar plant. Even so, some plants are giving in and going the dry route.
Solar plants are fighting with state regulators to get the water they need. Some are succeeding, while others are failing. Just with land conservation, there doesn't seem to be one right side here. Ideally, a new technique for cooling will be developed that doesn't require large amounts of water or a dip in efficiency.
A "dry cooling" technique exists that uses 90 percent less water than "wet cooling," but it's more expensive and reduces the efficiency of the solar plant. Even so, some plants are giving in and going the dry route.
Solar plants are fighting with state regulators to get the water they need. Some are succeeding, while others are failing. Just with land conservation, there doesn't seem to be one right side here. Ideally, a new technique for cooling will be developed that doesn't require large amounts of water or a dip in efficiency.
