First Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: FSLR) announced that a team of students from Ohio State University will use the company's advanced thin-film solar modules to power their sustainable house in the 2011 U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Decathlon competition, which will take place next week in Wash., D.C. Installation of the 8 kilowatt photovoltaic rooftop system, which utilizes modules manufactured in First Solar's Perrysburg, Ohio facility, will begin today.
"First Solar is proud to sponsor the Ohio State University Solar Decathlon team. We applaud their innovative design efforts and wish them luck at next week's competition," said Mike Koralewski, Vice President of Site Operations and Plant Manager for First Solar's Perrysburg, Ohio facility. "Our Ohio-manufactured solar modules were a natural fit for this Ohio-based team."
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' 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," said Matthew O'Kelly, Ohio State University Team Project Engineer. "They also make economic sense and were manufactured in our home state."
First Solar's modules are well suited for 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.
The company's Perrysburg, Ohio, facility produces approximately 250 megawatts per year and employs approximately 1200 associates.