Introduction to Renewable Power
Renewable Energy Systems Suitable for Use at Black Rock City
Electricity can be dangerous and cause human harm.
Make sure you are well versed in electrical safety before attempting to work with topics presented herein.
Whether for an art installation, theme camp, or other uses, you can choose to purchase a complete off the shelf system,
"Empyrean Temple"
Off The Shelf System
or build your own system...
The Theme Camp "Mystopia"
Build Your Own System
Photograph by Philip Dupree
Solar panels are the most popular type of renewable power generation at Black Rock City. Wind turbine generators can also be an excellent power source if safely installed and maintained. What ever type of system you may be interested in, success begins with education. The RAT firmly believes that the first step in designing and building a successful system is to have a basic understanding about how renewable energy works. We encourage everyone who is new to using renewable energy for powering their installations to first complete the RAT's Solar Power 101 online course.
Getting Started
Safety First
Black Rock City is located in Pershing County and the county adopts the 2017 edition of the National Fire Protection Association's National Electrical Code. The code is highly technical, and it is intended to be used by electrical system professionals and safety inspectors.
Black Rock City is a temporary installation and electrical power generation and distribution is similar to construction sites. The National Safety Council provides this guidance about how to keep electrical installations safe: Temporary Electrical Wiring for Construction Sites
The United States Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration provides this fact sheet about Grounding Requirements for Portable Generators.
Here is a useful article about Festival Power - Is there Documentable Code?
The RAT's Technical Advisors mentor and assist artists and others in designing, installing, operating, and maintaining safe power systems at Black Rock City.
There are three primary stages to the design and operation of renewable power systems:
Stage 1 - Analysis and Design
Step 1 - Complete a system or installation electrical load analysis to determine the desired system capacity. You can use the RAT's Solar Power System Estimator for completing an electrical load analysis. On the Burning Man Hive we offer the online class How To Do An Electrical Load Analysis to help people navigate the analysis process.
Bruce Cooper explains How To Do An Electrical Energy Inventory For Your Camp
Doug Hanson explains how to use the Solar Powered System Estimator
Step 2 - Design a renewable power system that will provide the amounts of electricity needed over the required time periods to energize your installation and that would be suitable for use in harsh environments such as the Black Rock Desert.
Below is an example of a design that was used to power the Burning Man 2022 "Waking Dreams" art installation "Spacecats Final Landing" by Ayda Keshtkar. Yes! It does look complicated and the RAT's Technical Advisors mentor and assist artists with navigating designing their systems.
Diagram by Alex Aguilar
"Spacecats Final Landing" Build Your Own Solar Power Installation
Stage 2 - Logistics
Step 3 - Solar panels are bulky and susceptible to damage from rough-handling and vibration. Batteries are heavy. The entire system's components need to be transported, installed, operated and maintained, broken down, and then transported again for re-deployment, storage, or returning components to venders or other sources. In addition, vandalism and theft is a recuring problem at Burning Man and we need to secure the non-panel and wind generator components in strong cabinets or structures with locks.
Stage 3 - Finance
Step 4 - Based on the system's design and logistical requirements, budget the costs of purchasing, renting, leasing, or borrowing system components, transportation, storage, security and insurance coverage.
System Components
Solar Panels
Solar panels take the energy from the sun's photons and convert it into a voltage that provides electric current flow. Panels are made up of a series of photo voltaic cells and can make up a group of panels called an array.
Average solar panels generate between 200 and 400 watts of power. That means the panels can produce 200 or 400 watts of electricity per hour in ideal conditions. Higher output panels in the 500-700 watt range are becoming more available and affordable.
Solar panels need to be durable enough to survive transportation and handling, wind, dust and occasional rainstorms. The panels should be installed on support structures so that the panels are secured from the wind and the risk of being runover.
It is important to frequently clean the playa dust off the panels to maintain a high level of power output.
"Frienship Cube"
"The Solar Library"
Wind Turbine Generators
The Black Rock Desert is famously windy and wind turbine generators are an excelllent source of power.
The generators need to be safely installed at a height above the surrounding built environment to provide an adequate flow of wind.
Elevated platforms are increasingly popular at Black Rock City and they can be the perfect location for supporting wind turbine generators.
Batteries
Rechargeable batteries can range from AAA size to utility scale mobile battery systems.
There are three main types of battery technologies that are used at Black Rock City:
Lead acid
Lithium-ion - lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide and lithium iron phosphate
Nickel based
Each of these battery technologies has its own set of unique characteristics.
"High Tech" Batteries
"High Teach" batteries are available that have built in Battery Management Systems (BMS) that monitor the battery:
Providing battery protection
Estimating the battery’s operational state
Continually optimizing battery performance
Reporting operational status to external devices
Charge Controllers
A charge controller limits the rate at which electric current is added to or drawn from electric batteries to protect against electrical overload, overcharging, and may protect against overvoltage.
Converters and Inverters
Converters are electrical devices that convert the voltage from alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC).
Inverters are electrical devices that convert the voltage from direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC).
Solar panels and batteries produce DC power. Your load may be DC and/or 120 Volt AC, which is common for all household devices in the US. The inverter converts DC power into 120 Volt AC power. Converters are used to raise or lower DC voltage such as dropping down 12 Volt DC to 5 Volt DC for a USB charging port.
Power Supply Wiring and Connections
The system needs to be grounded and power supply wiring and connections need to be able to meet the maximum power use requirements without overheating or causing circuit breakers to trip.
The cables and electrical connectors must be insulated and never have any exposed wires or connections that could electrocute people who interact with the installations.
Exposed wiring connections must be properly secured in component boxes or cabinets.
A safe way to protect electric cables is to bury them 6-12 inches under the playa surface.
Storage and Security
Renewable energy system components are valuable and Black Rock City is a desirable target to thieves.
Batteries and components should be stored together in strong weather resistant cabinets or structures with locks, and this option can reduce the risk of weather damage, vandalism, theft, and above all accidental electrocution.
A ventilation system may be required to prevent the components from overheating and ensure optimal performance.
Off The Shelf
Off the shelf systems may be your best choice. Plug and play!
Environmental Concerns
Solar panels, wind generators, batteries and other system components comprise sustainable energy sources, but what happens when they no longer work?
The renewable energy market has grown significantly in the past several years. With the increasing number of system components being sold and installed in the United States each year, they are ending up in the waste stream as well. While recycling is not yet widespread, organizations are busy laying the important groundwork to build the necessary collection, management and recycling systems.
The Renewables for Artists Team firmly believes in decommodification and does not endorse or promote any products for commercial purposes.