SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ:SPWRA) earned international recognition last week when six of 17 universities competing in Solar Decathlon Europe chose to use the company’s high-efficiency solar panels. The solar home-building competition began on Friday and will be held through June 27 in Madrid, Spain.
Luis Torres, SunPower’s General Director of Market Development, had the following to say about the decision of the six universities:
“SunPower is honored to support the talent and enthusiasm of these students, as their projects may help advance the residential use of renewable energy throughout Europe,” said Luis Torres, general director of market development, EMEA at SunPower. “Up to 50% more efficient than conventional panels, SunPower solar panels are the most reliable choice for constrained areas such as residential rooftops because they will generate more power than other solar products.”
According to SunPower’s press release, the San Jose, California-based company has been doing business in Spain since 2007 and generated 53 percent of its revenue from doing business in Europe during fiscal year 2009. SunPower is supporting the following universities that are using their panels in the competition:
- University of Sevilla
- CEU University Cardenal Herrera
- Institute of Advance Architecture of Cataluna
- University of Florida
- University of Rosenheim
- University of Paris Arts et Metiers
The first-ever Solar Decathlon Europe is being sponsored by the Spanish Ministry of Housing. The 17 competing universities are representing three different continents. During the competition, the university teams are being judged by renowned architects and engineers on the design of their homes as well as the cost-effective and energy-efficient aspects. The winning home will have to be architecturally sound and incorporate the most effect solar technology.
Solar Decathlon Europe is modeled after the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon, which is held every two years in Washington, D.C.
