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Student Competition: Solar Decathlon Goes Abroad |
The first European Solar Decathlon took place in June in Madrid. Houses were assembled along the Manzanares River.
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After five U.S.-based competitions, the Solar Decathlon went to Madrid this year through an agreement between the U.S. government and the Spanish government’s Ministry of Housing. Seventeen solar-powered residences were assembled on a vast dry stretch of land lining the Manzanares River, west of the Royal Palace in Spain’s capital city. Students from universities around the world raised funds for the projects, and conceived, designed, built, and marketed them. The Solar Decathlon serves as a learning lab, where students are judged in 10 categories, challenging them to think holistically about design. Among the areas that are critiqued are architecture, engineering, energy performance, communications, and market viability. Next year, the competition will add affordability to the mix.
This internationally known competition began in the U.S. in 2002, the brainchild of the Department of Energy’s Richard King. He was frustrated at the slow deployment of solar technologies in the marketplace and sought a means to educate consumers and aspiring designers about them. In the inaugural year, 14 teams from the U.S. and Puerto Rico competed, their houses occupying the National Mall in Washington, D.C. This year, competitors included one U.K. team and four Spanish, two U.S., two French, three German, and two Chinese teams, marking a major transition of the program to global participation.
The enthusiasm of the students was palpable during this year’s event, which was attended by 190,000 visitors. King, who has watched the program grow from its infancy, says its beauty lies in “its iterative progression. The teams come together and learn from each other what is successful. Then, the new generation of teams takes these lessons, goes back to the drawing board, and tries to create better homes.”
Next year’s U.S. competition will include newcomers from North America, as well as Hawaii, New Zealand, and Belgium, demonstrating the expanding international interest in the program. Spain and the U.S. will continue to host the competition in alternate years.
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