The Solar Energy-Water-Environment Nexus in Nevada

在这个为期五年的项目中，内华达州刺激竞争研究实验计划（NV-EPSCoR）解决了与干旱沙漠地区大规模太阳能装置相关的关键实际问题。该项目将太阳能热能发电的研究与沙漠地区太阳能装置的生态水文影响相结合，以促进太阳能发电的经济和环保可行性。这种结合将该项目与其他几个现有的太阳能项目区分开来，从而使其成为内华达州以及美国和世界各地其他太阳能装置的独特模型研究。该项目的主要参与机构是：内华达大学里诺分校、内华达大学拉斯维加斯分校和内华达大学沙漠研究所。来自南内华达学院、特拉基梅多斯社区学院和内华达州立学院的教师和学生也将参与这个项目。尽管充足的阳光和无云的日子有利于太阳能的收集，干旱地区经常经历沙尘暴，很少或根本没有降雨。太阳能电池板上积聚的灰尘会吸收阳光，降低太阳能电池的效率；水资源短缺增加了满足太阳能集热器冷却需求的成本。该项目旨在开发工程/技术解决方案，以防止大型太阳能装置中的灰尘和减少用水量。此外，它还审查了沙漠生态系统的反应，并为设计有效的方法来管理和减轻与大型太阳能装置有关的环境影响提供了基于科学的信息。该奖项在该项目期间建立了一个研究机构，称为内华达州环境、水和太阳能测试和研究机构（NEW-STAR）。通过创建内华达州研究数据中心（NRDC）进行数据管理和通信，增强了现有的网络基础设施能力。这些新设施促进了跨学科科学家和工程师团队在太阳能-水-环境关系研究和教育主题方面的合作。更广泛的影响该项目有潜力开发成本更低、因此更具竞争力的太阳能发电技术，旨在最大限度地减少用水和环境退化。所开发的技术解决方案适用于国内和全球其他太阳能装置。科学家之间的互动和区域、国家和国际层面的合作，以及与内华达州能源工业和环境机构的伙伴关系，有望促进该州的经济发展。本项目共有41名教师、24名技术人员、43名研究生和38名本科生参与。该项目针对大学预科生和本科生提供以下课程，重点吸引代表性不足的少数群体、K-12教师和普通公众：(1)大学预科衔接课程，帮助K-12学生发展学术技能和职业道路；(2)本科生研究机会计划（UROP），提供太阳能-水-环境关系的研究经验；(3)本科生和研究生的实践培训（HOT），以促进从学生到专业的过渡；活动包括太阳能技术的行业实习和实验室经验，以及提案写作研讨会；(4)教师专业发展计划，让K-12教师参与研究、实地工作和与研究生合作；(5)教育K-12学生项目相关主题的计划，并告知他们的家人科学、技术、工程和数学（STEM）职业的机会；(6)在线学习实验室，提供无线访问网络学习材料，增强公众对太阳能及其对水和环境的影响的了解。

In this five-year project, Nevada Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (NV-EPSCoR) addresses critical practical problems of relevance to large-scale solar installations in arid desert lands. The project combines research on solar thermal energy generation with the understanding of eco-hydrological impacts of solar installation in desert regions to advance the economic and eco-friendly viability of solar electricity generation. This combination distinguishes this project from several other existing solar energy projects, thus making it a unique model study of relevance to Nevada and other solar installations in the US and around the world. The major participating institutions in this project are: the University of Nevada, Reno, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and the University of Nevada Desert Research Institute. Faculty and students from the College of Southern Nevada, Truckee Meadows Community College, and Nevada State College will also be engaged in this project.Intellectual MeritDespite plentiful sunlight and cloud-free days which are conducive for solar energy collection, arid regions experience frequent dust storms and receive little or no rain. Dust accumulated on solar panels absorb sunlight and decrease the efficiency of solar cells; water scarcity increases the cost of meeting the cooling needs of solar thermal collectors. This project seeks to develop engineering/technological solutions to repel dust and minimize water usage in large solar installations. In addition, it examines the desert ecosystem responses and provides science-based information for designing effective ways to manage and mitigate environmental impacts associated with large-scale solar installations. The award establishes a research facility, called the Nevada Environment, Water, and Solar Testing and Research Facility (NEW-STAR) during this project. Enhancements to the existing cyberinfrastructure capabilities are effected through the creation of the Nevada Research Data Center (NRDC) for data management and communication. These new facilities promote collaboration among teams of interdisciplinary scientists and engineers on solar-energy-water-environment nexus research and education theme. Broader ImpactsThis project has the potential to develop less costly and thus more competitive solar electricity generation techniques aimed at minimizing both water usage and environmental degradation. The technological solutions to be developed are applicable to other solar energy installations nationally and globally. Interactions among scientists and collaboration at regional, national, and international levels as well as partnerships with energy industry and environmental agencies in Nevada are expected to promote economic development in the state. The project involves 41 faculty, 24 technicians, 43 graduate students, and 38 undergraduate students as participants. The project offers the following programs aimed at pre-college and undergraduate students with a focus to attract underrepresented minority groups, K-12 teachers, and the general public: (1) Pre-college bridging programs to assist K-12 students to develop academic skills and career pathways; (2) Undergraduate research opportunity programs (UROP) to provide research experience at the solar energy-water-environment nexus; (3) Undergraduate and graduate hands-on training (HOT) to facilitate transition from student to professional; activities include industry internships and laboratory experiences in solar energy technology, and proposal writing workshops; (4) Teacher professional development programs that engage K-12 teachers in research, field work, and working with graduate students; (5) programs to educate K-12 students on project related themes and inform their families of opportunities for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) careers; and (6) Online learning laboratories, which provide wireless access to cyber learning materials and enhance public understanding of solar energy and related impacts on water and environment.