China Will Host a Solar Decathlon for the First Time
Friday, April 29, 2011
On April 28, 2011, the launch ceremony for Solar Decathlon China (SD China) was held at Peking University. The event was witnessed by more than 200 participants from China’s National Energy Administration (NEA), the U.S. Department of Energy, prominent domestic and international energy companies, and several Chinese universities. The Solar Decathlon China competition will be hosted by the National Energy Administration and the U.S. Department of Energy, organized by Peking University, and supported by companies including Applied Materials of the U.S.
Launched in the U.S. in 2002, the Solar Decathlon has been held about every two years. In 2013, China will host its inaugural Solar Decathlon competition. The teams will come from international universities, each of which will design and build a house that uses solar energy as the sole energy source for maintaining the operations of daily life. The competition will have ten contests, including energy conservation, architecture, environmental appeal, and energy independence—thus the “Decathlon” name.
During the launch ceremony, Wu Guihui, chief engineer of NEA, recognized the importance of Solar Decathlon and indicated that SD China would demonstrate the importance the Chinese government places on the application of new energy, promotion of low-carbon technologies, China’s responsibilities for carbon emission reduction, and initiatives of green and sustainable development. The competition will also be a good way to introduce advanced new energy technologies, promote commercialization in the field of clean energy, and carry out “green, clean, environmental protection” concepts in each Chinese city.
Zhou Qifeng, the president of Peking University, said: “In recent years, China’s new energy industry has made considerable progress in the field. The government’s strong encouragement and support for environment-friendly solutions have encouraged an increase in academic research and commercial deployment, spurring industry growth for new energy technologies. The Solar Decathlon China program will advance the level of technology development and application.”
During the ceremony, the organizing committee of SD China announced the timetable of the competition, the drafting of sponsorship regulations, and the drafting of hosting city regulations and launched the official website for SD China.
This press release was provided by Solar Decathlon China organizers.