Solar energy and innovation were at the forefront of diplomacy when President Barack Obama hosted China’s President Hu Jintao in an official state visit at the end of January. As part of the visit, numerous agreements were reached that can improve economic and environmental conditions in their respective countries and around the world. Applied Materials played an important role in creating just one of these agreements, which sets out the terms for establishing a Solar Decathlon competition in China fashioned after the highly successful US model.
Applied Materials signed a memorandum of understanding with Peking University, the China National Energy Administration and the US Department of Energy to bring Solar Decathlon to China.
The Solar Decathlon aims to help bring solar energy technologies to the marketplace faster by demonstrating the attractive design and sustainable living opportunities afforded through solar technology. The Solar Decathlon also educates the college-aged participants and the public about the many benefits of renewable energy and energy efficiency in buildings available today.
Peking University and Applied Materials, with support from the US DOE and the China NEA, will collaborate to design a programme and ensure a successful implementation by 2013 of the Chinese Solar Decathlon competition that will challenge students to design and build a self-sufficient house powered by the sun.
Applied has supported teams from University of Texas-Austin and Santa Clara University at previous US competitions as well as being a national sponsor of the 2009 competition. Additionally, China had two universities participate in Solar Decathlon Europe and one of them, Tianjin in Shanghai, will participate in the US programme in September 2011, in Washington, D.C.
“The Solar Decathlon is a powerful tool to teach young people and the public about renewable energy – especially the fact that renewable energy technologies are available for use today to reduce energy costs and environmental impacts. The extension of the program to China will demonstrate a continued commitment between the US and China to advance renewable energy technology,” said Dr. Mark Pinto, Executive Vice President and head of the Applied Energy and Environmental Solutions and Display group, who has been a strong champion for bringing this program to China.
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