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安装相关的关键实际问题。该项目将对太阳能发电的研究与了解在沙漠地区安装太阳能的生态水文影响结合起来，以提高太阳能发电的经济和生态友好型可行性。这一结合使该项目有别于其他几个现有的太阳能项目，从而使其成为与内华达州和美国及世界各地其他太阳能设施相关的独特模型研究。参与该项目的主要机构有：内华达大学雷诺分校、内华达大学拉斯维加斯分校和内华达大学沙漠研究所。南内华达学院、特鲁基梅多斯社区学院和内华达州立学院的师生也将参与这一项目。尽管阳光充足，无云，有利于太阳能收集，但干旱地区沙尘暴频繁，降雨很少或根本没有降雨。积聚在太阳能电池板上的灰尘吸收阳光，降低太阳能电池的效率；缺水增加了满足太阳能集热器冷却需求的成本。该项目寻求开发工程/技术解决方案，以在大型太阳能设施中驱除灰尘并将用水量降至最低。此外，它还审查了沙漠生态系统的反应，并提供了以科学为基础的信息，用于设计有效的方法来管理和减轻与大规模太阳能安装有关的环境影响。该奖项在该项目期间建立了一个研究机构，名为内华达州环境、水和太阳能测试和研究机构(NEW-STAR)。通过建立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-能源-水-环境关系研究和教育主题上的合作。更广泛的影响该项目有可能开发成本更低、从而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。待开发的技术解决方案适用于国内和全球的其他太阳能装置。科学家之间的互动以及在地区、国家和国际层面的合作，以及与内华达州能源行业和环境机构的伙伴关系，预计将促进该州的经济发展。该项目涉及41名教职员工、24名技术人员、43名研究生和38名本科生。该项目提供以下针对大学预科和本科学生的计划，重点是吸引未被充分代表的少数群体、K-12教师和普通公众：(1)大学前衔接计划，以帮助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)本科生和研究生动手培训(HOT)，以促进从学生向专业的过渡；活动包括太阳能技术方面的行业实习和实验室经验，以及提案撰写研讨会；(4)教师专业发展计划，吸引K-12教师参与研究、实地工作和与研究生合作；(5)计划，教育K-12学生与项目相关的主题，并向他们的家人介绍科学、技术、工程和数学(STEM)职业机会；以及(6)在线学习实验室，提供无线访问网络学习材料，并增强公众对太阳能及其对水和环境的相关影响的了解。

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.