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Solar dishes standing on the northern edge of UNLV, along East Flamingo Road, collect the sun's energy and convert it into electricity for Nevada Power Co. The solar dish power generation system was made possible by $1 million in funding from the Department of Energy, which is exploring the possibilities of solar energy. Photo by Christine H. Wetzel.

Saturday, August 25, 2001
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

ENERGY COLLECTORS: Project dishes out electricity

Solar power companies, supporters from UNLV praise $1 million system

Southern Nevadans can't ignore the issue of solar energy, at least not if they drive down East Flamingo Road.

Two solar energy collectors tower above traffic near the busy road's intersection with Swenson Street. Earlier this month, they began collecting thermal energy and turning it into small amounts of electricity for Nevada Power Co., joining coal- and natural gas-generated power distributed to Las Vegas-area homes and businesses.

The solar dish power generation system produces enough electricity for about five homes.

"They're producing energy without consuming natural gas or coal," Rick Hurt, a senior in mechanical engineering at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, said about the $250,000 solar collectors that look like massive satellite dishes. "It's a clean, natural way. There's no pollution."

The Department of Energy supplied $1 million for the design and operation of the power generation system. The two-year project will allow UNLV students and faculty to study the reliability of the state-of-the art equipment. The setup could grow and supply more Southern Nevadans with "green power," which does not rely on the world's shortening supply of nonrenewable energy sources.

Friday, officials from the solar energy companies Stirling Energy Systems and SAIC/STM Power Dish joined UNLV administrators, faculty, students and supporters to celebrate the early success of the dishes, which are 55 feet and 40 feet high. The peak electrical output for both is about 47 kilowatts.

Both dishes are computer-controlled to track the sun's intensity throughout the day. Sun shines on the panels, which reflect rays to a focal point on the dish. An engine generator transforms solar heat energy into electrical power ready for transmission by Nevada Power Co.

Manufacturers and university officials at Friday's gathering said they are hopeful Congress soon will fund a larger project that would bring 40 solar dishes to Southern Nevada, possibly outside Boulder City. Such a "mini-power plant" could produce one megawatt of power.

UNLV engineering professor Robert Boehm said his students and colleagues are planning for a day when the sun becomes a greater source of power in Southern Nevada, one of the sunniest spots in the United States.

"This is a great project for us," said Boehm, who directs UNLV's Center for Energy Research. "The education the students are getting out of this is a great supplement to their regular education."