Acciona recently completed Nevada Solar One, a 64 MW solar trough power plant near Boulder City, Nevada. Acciona and the UNLV Center for Energy Research, along with The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) are working together to monitor weather conditions and to consider how energy storage may fit at the site.

The technology for this solar power generating system for this site is different from the systems at the Solar Site. These designs are all Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Systems but the generation method is different.

Solar troughs have a parabolic shape with mirrors throughout the inner surface. The mirrors are aligned to concentrate sunlight onto a receiver tube located along the trough's focal line. Part of this receiver tube can be seen in the left side of the image. These large troughs are controlled by motors that slowly rotate during the day in order to optimize the suns energy on the receiver tube. There is fluid inside receiver tube that is heated to a high temperature of approximately 300°C (~572°F). This working fluid powers a turbine which in turn generates power.

For more information and to view information being collected go to www.eldorado.solar.unlv.edu.