A trio of UNLV undergraduate engineering students recently won a United Nations competition with their design of a solar-driven electrical power system ideal for small uses such as lighting and basic appliances.

Many developing nations lack access to reliable electric power but are located in regions suited for solar energy.

"The energy crisis in urban areas gets most of the attention, but rural areas far from the grid have struggled for decades to receive even the most basic energy needs," said Wali Zaidi, UNLV team leader.

Best in the World

To win the Humanitarian Technology Challenge, the team had eight months to define a pilot project location, research and develop a prototype, and identify local manufacturing and finance options.

The competition is sponsored by the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the United Nations Foundation. More than 50 teams of college students competed, and UNLV edged out finalists from Technische Universit?t in Germany and Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology in India.

Here Comes the Sun

Though the UNLV team focused specifically on helping people in rural Pakistan, their system is adaptable, requires little maintenance, and can be used in rural locations worldwide.

It can be scaled up for use with larger loads and contains battery storage for use at night and during inclement weather. A manual tracking feature allows the user to reposition the unit during the day to maximize power output without the high cost and technical skill needed to operate an electronics-based tracking system.

The unit would cost approximately $1,700 with installation. Through loans secured with designated private partnerships or the manufacturer, the repayment cost could be as little at $28 per month.

UNLV team members Wali Zaidi, Sammy Zaidi, and Christopher Belcher are undergraduates in the Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering. The team is using its $5,000 grand prize to continue development of a prototype system for future commercial application.

"UNLV is an ideal place to learn about emerging solar energy applications from industry leaders, and the skills we've learned in the classroom gave us an edge in the competition and a chance to help people in need," said Wali Zaidi.

Learn More

The Humanitarian Technology Challenge gives college students worldwide an opportunity to develop creative solutions to global issues including reliable electricity, data connectivity in rural health offices, and improved tracking of patient health records.