SOLAR ENERGY CONVERSION: AN ANALYSIS OF IMPACTS ON DESERT ECOSYSTEM ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY CONTRACT NO. EC-77-S-02-4339 FINAL REPORT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. The desert region of North America is considered a prime area for the development of solar energy conversion facilities. Development of these facilities will both create disturbances and alter the environment of the construction area. The desert ecosystems are under stress and can be expected to respond dramatically to any major environmental change caused by solar energy conversion system construction and operation. 2. There are solar energy conversion systems in the Southwest that are functional while others are in the testing or planning stages. Two solar powered irrigation pumping systems are functional using parabolic mirror solar concentrators. The solar thermal power system concept ("power tower") is being tested at a 5 MW thermal test facility near Albuquerque, New Mexico prior to actual construction of a 10 MW^ solar thermal power system near Barstow, California. A 100 MWe solar thermal system (.central receiver system) is being planned as a follow up project to the 10 MWg facility. Photovoltaic solar dispersed power systems are also planned for construction in the next decade. 3. Impacts resulting from construction and operation of solar conversion facilities have the potential of altering the complex desert ecological systems. These ecosystems are composed of two parts, the biotic or organism component and the abiotic or chemical and physical components. Within the biotic component energy is transferred through the food chain and organisms interact in the process of growth and survival. The abiotic
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