19 September 2011

First Solar modules to power Ohio State University at Solar Decathlon Competition in Washington DC

First Solar Inc of Tempe, AZ, USA says that a team of students from Ohio State University will use its cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin-film photovoltaic (PV) solar modules made in its facility in Perrysburg, OH installed in a 8kW rooftop system to power their sustainable house entered in the US Department of Energy’s 2011 Solar Decathlon competition next week in Washington DC. “Our Ohio-manufactured solar modules were a natural fit for this Ohio-based team,” comments Mike Koralewski, VP of site operations and plant manager for First Solar’s Perrysburg facility. 

The biennial Solar Decathlon challenges students to use a holistic approach to design and construct net-zero energy-consuming homes. The competition features houses from 20 universities from around the world. Ohio State University’s sustainable house maximizes the efficiency of the dwelling by condensing all of the mechanical and fixed items into a minimal footprint, while still providing flexible spaces that can accommodate the needs of a modern family.

“We chose First Solar’s modules because they offer the technological edge our sustainable home design requires,” says Ohio State University team project engineer Matthew O’Kelly. “They also make economic sense and were manufactured in our home state.” The Perrysburg facility produces about 250MW of modules per year and employs about 1200 associates.

First Solar says that its modules are suited to rooftop applications and generate electricity with no water usage and no waste production. They also perform well in high-temperature conditions and can produce more electricity when mounted flush on a rooftop, where wind is less able to cool them.

Tags: First Solar Thin-film photovoltaic CdTe

Visit: http://solardecathlon.osu.edu

Visit: www.firstsolar.com