Noria Energy is beginning construction on Aurea Solar, a 50 kW floating solar pilot project in Golden, aimed at providing renewable energy for local water utility operations. The project will utilize a new floating solar tracker technology developed by Sausalito, Calif.-based Noria, designed to enhance energy output.
Located on Fairmount Reservoir, owned by Consolidated Mutual Water Company (CMWC), the project offers a cost-effective solution for energy generation while conserving water by reducing evaporation. This initiative is notable as it represents the first project in the U.S. to showcase tracking solar technology on water, expanding possibilities for solar energy deployment.
The AquaPhi technology allows solar panels on floating systems to follow the sun, thereby increasing energy production by 10-20%. This tracker can be easily implemented in new or existing floating solar projects.
CMWC expressed optimism about the benefits of floating solar for energy conservation and enhanced water supply management. “We are excited to embark on the prospects of floating solar as a means to not only produce and conserve energy, but also to improve our water supply by reducing how much is lost to evaporation,” said CMWC Chief of Water Resources Jarod Roberts.
The project is being developed in collaboration with GRID Alternatives, a nonprofit focused on renewable energy access, and Hazelett Marine, a provider of floating solar mooring solutions. The partners aim to promote clean energy and create local job opportunities. Noria Energy expects the project to be operational by September 2025, supporting CMWC’s mission to deliver reliable water to over 100,000 customers in the greater Denver area while demonstrating the viability of floating solar tracking systems across the country.
