ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, announced that it has been selected as the sole electrical control supplier of the Tsinghua University team at the Solar Decathlon 2013. Inaugurated in 2002, the Solar Decathlon is the most influential solar energy competition and is aimed at facilitating integration and exchange in the solar industry by gearing up the innovation, development, and application of relevant technologies. This year marks the first time the event is held in China.
Gao Hong, Vice President of ABB China and head of Smart Grid North Asia Region, said, “With an ‘In China, for China’ strategy, ABB maintains close cooperation with local universities to encourage R&D, innovation, and talent development. ABB is eager to support the Tsinghua University team in the Solar Decathlon with its advanced technologies and expertise in smart grid and home control, further promoting solar applications and improving energy efficiency for sustainable development.”
Gao Hong, Vice President of ABB China and head of Smart Grid North Asia Region and Deng Wei from Tsinghua University at the signing ceremony
Deng Wei, a professor at Tsinghua University, said, “As a platform to introduce college students to new energy technologies and applications, the competition stimulates creativity, increases knowledge, and enhances international academic exchange. We hope that through this competition more people will gain insight into future lifestyles and assimilate green concepts.”
For Tsinghua University’s solar house in Solar Decathlon 2013, ABB will provide mature electrical solutions, including low-voltage distribution products for solar convergence and inversion and i-bus home control products for intelligent building controls as well as installation, commissioning, and maintenance services.
In other countries, ABB has partnered with universities on this event many times. For example, solar houses featuring ABB solutions took first place in 2007 and 2009. The surPLUShome, jointly built by ABB and the Technical University of Darmstadt, took first prize in three categories, architecture, appliances, and engineering, in 2009.
As a pioneer in renewable energy generation and intelligent building technologies, ABB offers low-voltage products and intelligent building control systems targeting the solar industry that boast advanced features such as smart grid, tiered pricing, power consumption query, energy efficiency, reduced energy consumption by appliances, load management, photovoltaic power generation, grid connection and self-sufficiency, and new energy storage.
Presented and organized by the U.S. Department of Energy, the Solar Decathlon is an international competition that challenges collegiate teams to design, build, and operate the most attractive, effective and energy-efficient, solar-powered house. The winning entry will best combine affordability, consumer appeal, and design excellence with optimal energy production. Since 2002, the competition has taken place biennially in the U.S. and Europe. The Solar Decathlon will be held in China for the first time in Datong, Shanxi in 2013.
ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve their performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 145,000 people. ABB has a full range of business activities in China, including R&D, manufacturing, sales and services, with 18,300 employees, 36 local companies, and an extensive sales and service network across 80 cities.
