First Solar donates thin-film solar modules to Inner Mongolia University of Technology students for 2013 solar Decathlon competition

Tuesday, Mar 19, 2013

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”

“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.”

Source: Business Wire