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. Either way, success begins with education. The RAT believes strongly 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 Camp 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. 

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 recurring problem at Burning Man and we need to secure the non-panel 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.

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. 

• Most modern solar panels have power ratings that range from 100 to 400 watts. That means the panels can produce 100 to 400 watts of electricity per hour in ideal conditions. 

• 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.

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.

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. 

Batteries  

• 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. 

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 12 inches under the playa surface.

Storage and Security  

• System components are valuable and Black Rock City is a desirable target to thieves.

• Batteries, charge controllers, inverters and converters 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 accidental electrocution.

• A ventilation system may be required to prevent the components from overheating and ensure optimal performance.