TU Darmstadt wins Solar Decathlon competition with energy efficient solar-powered house 
The Solar Decathlon is an architectural and energy technology competition sponsored by the US Department of Energy. The participating college and university finalists are showing their solar-powered houses for three weeks at the National Mall in Washington D.C.
The first competition took place in September/October 2002, the next one in September/October 2005, with the third competition being held in October 2007. The 2007 winner is the Technical University of Darmstadt, followed by the University of Maryland and Santa Clara University.
TU Darmstadt will be showing just how energy efficient a building can be at this year’s Deubau Construction Trade Fair in Essen. The University will be displaying their house, which has won the international Solar Decathlon 2007, for the first time in Germany in Hall 3. SCHOTT Solar GmbH supplied the photovoltaic thin film plates used on the façade of the house to generate energy.
Twenty universities took part in the "Solar Decathlon" competition for solar-powered houses posted by the US Department of Energy. TU Darmstadt, the only German university whose application was accepted, went on to win first prize. The team, headed up by Professor Manfred Hegger, decided to use a sun-tracking system based on ASI® OEM raw plates from SCHOTT Solar. These standard OEM thin film components were also chosen for integration into this innovative architectural piece from the cost perspective.
“We’re happy for the TU Darmstadt team and warmly congratulate them on this major success. It shows just how successful innovative architecture can be when based on existing industrial products” comments Roland Neuner, SCHOTT Solar GmbH Sales Manager PV Building Solutions.
Related categories: Environmental technologies for Residential and Green homes Solar power and photovoltaics
