Noria Energy, a floating solar developer and technology provider, has begun construction on Aurea Solar, a 50 kW floating solar pilot project in Golden, Colorado. The project is designed to provide renewable energy for local water utility operations and is being built on the Fairmount Reservoir, a water storage facility owned and operated by the Consolidated Mutual Water Company (CMWC).
The project will be powered by Noria’s newly developed floating solar tracker technology, AquaPhi®. Unlike traditional floating solar systems, which remain static, AquaPhi® enables the solar panels to rotate and follow the sun’s movement across the sky. This ability increases energy production by an estimated 10 to 20 percent compared to conventional systems. At the same time, floating solar helps conserve water by reducing evaporation from reservoirs, creating a dual benefit for utilities managing water and energy needs.
Jarod Roberts — CMWC’s Chief of Water Resources, stated, “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.”
Ron Stimmel, Chief Executive Officer of Noria, “We couldn’t be more excited to work with our partners CMWC, GRID Alternatives, and Hazelett to deploy our powerful technology that helps make clean energy more accessible to more customers.”
Aurea Solar marks the first U.S. project to demonstrate scalable, high-performance solar tracking technology on water. For this pilot, the generated power will be used to run onsite pumps that regulate the water supply in the reservoir. The project shows how existing water infrastructure can be transformed into energy-producing assets while also supporting water conservation goals.
Noria Energy is developing Aurea Solar in partnership with GRID Alternatives, a nonprofit organization focused on renewable energy access, workforce development, and community empowerment, and Hazelett Marine, a leader in mooring solutions for floating solar installations. Together, the partners bring engineering expertise, installation support, workforce training opportunities, and reliable technology to ensure the long-term stability and success of the system.
Scheduled for commissioning in September 2025, the 50 kW pilot project will contribute to CMWC’s mission of delivering clean, safe, and reliable water to more than 100,000 customers in the greater Denver area. At the same time, it will showcase the potential of floating solar tracking systems as a scalable solution for clean energy generation and resource efficiency across the United States.
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