The state of Nevada is rich in renewable resources and the University of Nevada–Las Vegas Renewable Energy Center (UNLV REC) focuses on the application of two of those resources, solar energy and energy efficient building design. It offers interdisciplinary education, research, and services in solar energy and cost-effective, energy efficient building design. The center is focusing on the application of these technologies to issues relevant to the Southwest, such as its arid environment and considerable population growth.
The UNLV REC is currently in the design phase and progress is being made toward siting the facility that will house the center. When the site is finally occupied, it will allow many of the renewable energy projects underway within a variety of programs at UNLV to be housed there. Additionally the UNLV REC will have as many as 50 staff positions and will provide the platform for UNLV collaboration with industry and DOE to perform its R&D activities in solar energy and energy-efficient buildings technologies.
The goals of the UNLV REC are to:
- Strengthen the Southwest's renewable energy research, and development capabilities
- Establish and nurture partnerships to promote competitive renewable energy deployment by the private sector
- Assist U.S. (and particularly Southwest) industry in improving its position as a leader in renewable energy technologies
- Better understand Nevada's renewable resources and optimize renewable energy project installations
- Foster renewable technologies suited for rural communities of the Southwest
- Assist Nevada in meeting its renewable portfolio standard
Technical Expertise
UNLV has a strong history in renewable energy and energy conservation projects. Solar energy R&D focus areas have included dish-Stirling projects in the past. Currently, UNLV is working on such areas as concentrating PV, solar parabolic trough, general distributed generation systems and hydrogen uses. The particular projects have ranged from computer simulations to full-sized prototype testing. Additionally, UNLV has shown outstanding proficiency in the areas of building technology.
Building Technology
In the conservation and buildings technology areas, UNLV has had close collaborations with manufacturers of energy conserving products, utilities and homebuilders. Facilities on the campus are particularly oriented to serving this industry and include comparative solar water heating test facilities and comparative building performance evaluation facilities in the College of Engineering. The School of Architecture has facilities related to lighting and building energy conservation and some of these are housed in the Natural Energies Advanced Technologies Laboratory. UNLV's solar and energy-efficient buildings projects have typically been carried out in collaboration with industry and other partners evaluating and monitoring the effectiveness, performance and energy savings of the combined space heating, space cooling and domestic hot water system of a net Zero Energy Home.
Solar Energy Technology
Current technical NSWEP activities at UNLV appropriate for the center include analysis to assess the potential for concentrated solar power generation in the Southwest; the evaluation of a concentrating photovoltaic Amonix power generation system; and a solar parabolic trough system with Solargenix. UNLV has developed expertise in both residential and utility scale systems and components. Some efforts have previously been housed in the Center for Energy Research.
For more information contact:
University of Nevada—Las Vegas Renewable Energy Center
Robert F. Boehm, PhD, PE, Co-Director
- University of Nevada–Las Vegas Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering
- Director of the Energy Research Center, Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering
702-895-4160
E-mail: boehm@me.unlv.edu
Michael Kroelinger, PhD, AIA, Co-Director
- Professor and Director, University of Nevada-Las Vegas, School of Architecture
702-895-0939
E-mail: michael.kroelinger@unlv.edu
