First Solar Donates Thin-Film Solar Modules to Inner Mongolia University of Technology Students for 2013 Solar Decathlon Competition
First Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq:FSLR) announced today that a team of students
from Inner Mongolia University of Technology (IMUT) will use the
Company’s advanced thin-film solar photovoltaic (PV) modules to power
its house in the 2013 Solar Decathlon China competition. First Solar
donated 150 of its PV modules with a peak generating capacity of 13
kilowatts (KW) to IMUT’s “Team Green Sun” and will provide technical
support for the project team, as well as collaborating with IMUT on
solar education. This is the third time First Solar has supported the
Solar Decathlon competitions.
“We are proud to support IMUT’s Team Green Sun in bringing
cost-effective and energy-efficient technology to the region,” said
Bruce Yung, First Solar’s Managing Director and Vice President of
Business Development for China. “China represents a very important
market for First Solar. The fact that this year’s Solar Decathlon is
being held here is reflective of the government’s commitment to
developing the solar industry to meet interlinking economic, energy and
environmental goals. First Solar is very pleased to be able to
contribute to China’s solar development in this way.”
Originally developed by the U.S. Department of Energy in 2002, the Solar
Decathlon is a biennial competition that challenges students to use a
holistic approach to design and engineer houses with net-zero energy
consumption. The competition helps demonstrate that solar-powered homes
are fully functional and sustainable, while promoting innovation and
adoption of solar energy technologies.
This year marks the first time China has hosted the Solar Decathlon
competition. It features 22 teams from around the world, with 13 teams
coming from China. The 2013 Solar Decathlon China is the result of an
agreement between China’s National Energy Administration and the U.S.
Department of Energy to encourage energy collaboration between the two
countries.
“First Solar strives to give back to the communities in which we
operate. We are eager to share our expertise with students in the
industry around the world so that we can help cultivate new and creative
ideas in our future leaders,” said Jim Brown, First Solar’s Executive
Vice President of Global Business Development. “First Solar supports
China’s sustainable development and the Chinese government’s commitment
to the solar energy industry at the national and provincial levels. We
hope that by participating in the Solar Decathlon competitions, we can
further raise awareness about the importance of solar technologies in
achieving a sustainable energy future.”
Team Green Sun’s house design for the 2013 Solar Decathlon China is
based on the yurt, a tent-like habitat indigenous to Inner Mongolia and
other parts of Central Asia. The team’s project seeks to address energy
issues common in the region, including power grid inaccessibility, water
shortages and high heating demands. First Solar’s advanced thin-film
solar modules will equip the house with an efficient source of energy
that successfully addresses the energy needs of off-grid areas with
challenging operating conditions. The team consists of 21 graduate and
undergraduate students from various majors, including energy and power
engineering, architecture, civil engineering and management.
First Solar’s thin-film solar modules generate clean, renewable energy
with no emissions, waste or water consumption during operation. The
company’s unique cadmium telluride (CdTe) photovoltaic (PV) technology
offers compelling advantages over typical silicon technology, including
superior light absorption and better performance at high temperatures.
The technology enables First Solar’s modules to perform better in
real-world conditions, as they are impacted less by heat, shading and
soiling. First Solar’s module production process also has the lowest
carbon footprint and the shortest energy pay-back time of any current PV
technologies on a life-cycle basis.
For more information on the 2013 Solar Decathlon China, visit http://www.sdchina.org/default.aspx.
For more information on IMUT’s Team Green Sun, visit http://www.sdimut.com/.
About First Solar
First Solar is a leading global provider of comprehensive photovoltaic
(PV) solar systems which use its advanced thin-film modules. The
company's integrated power plant solutions deliver an economically
attractive alternative to fossil-fuel electricity generation today. From
raw material sourcing through end-of-life module collection and
recycling, First Solar's renewable energy systems protect and enhance
the environment. For more information about First Solar, please visit www.firstsolar.com.
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