Schneider Electric, a global specialist in energy management, announced its strategic sponsorship with 2010 Solar Decathlon Europe for 3 years, as part of its commitment to help people make the most of their energy.

The Solar Decathlon Europe challenges students from top universities from Europe, America and Asia to design, build and operate energy efficient, solar-powered houses. The first Europe based competition will be held in Madrid, Spain with 17 universities from June 17 to 27, 2010, and the next one will happen in 2012. The US-based competition will happen in 2011 and again in 2013. The Solar Decathlon competition takes place in a solar village open to the public where houses will be assembled and will feature energy efficiency and renewable energy exhibits with strategies to reduce consumption of fossil fuels and lower utility bills. The initiative demonstrates innovative clean energy technology research and development, reveals consumers the benefits of solar-powered living, and develops a well-trained workforce who is uniquely prepared for green jobs.

Contestants are required to connect their houses’ electric systems to the local utility service provider through a microgrid system. For the project of the Instituto de Arquitectura Avanzada de Cataluña, Schneider Electric has imagined a low tension grid that interconnects the house and its solar panels, linking them instantly to local and global grids, through two MV/LV substations supplied by the group. Schneider Electric has invented a radical new way of managing energy that connects all the different energy sources (renewables, batteries, grids…), balances the energy flows and adapts, in real-time, the energy offer to the demand. For this European edition, Schneider Electric also sponsors and supports 8 university projects of solar houses –  equivalent to 50% of the projects presented – by providing its solutions and engineering services to the contestants. The group is involved in the projects from:

1. Universidad de Sevilla (Spain): SOLARKIT
2. Universidad Politécnica de Cataluña (Spain): LOW3
3. Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera (Spain): SMLHOUSE
4. Instituto de Arquitectura Avanzada de Cataluña (Spain): FABLABHOUSE
5. Universidad de Valladolid (Spain): URCOMANTE
6. University of Florida (USA): RE:FOCUS
7. Polytechnic Institute & State University de Virginia (USA): LUMENHAUS
8. Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’architecture de Grenoble (France): ARMADILLO BOX

Schneider Electric participates for these 8 projects on different levels, from consultation to products donation or solution integration. The group has helped the US projects by providing the proper solution, thus allowing connection between the American grid (110W, 60Hz) and the European grid (220W, 50Hz) using inverters and a battery.

By sponsoring 2010 Solar Decathlon Europe, Schneider Electric shares broad-based knowledge and resources, as well as its passion with a new generation of energy enthusiasts. Sustainable development is a real and essential opportunity for mobilization, growth and differentiation. Schneider Electric is committed to producing innovative and efficient solutions to curb energy waste, promote clean generation and influence consumption habits that respect the environment.