The Intersolar project awards, now known as the smarter E Outstanding Projects, go to ten different projects that pioneer ways to decentralize power and increase energy independence in the electricity, heating and transportation sectors.
The winners of this year’s contest were announced at Intersolar Europe and some of the finalists will showcase their products during Intersolar North America on Tuesday, July 10 from 12:45 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. in Moscone West, Level 1, Booth 7331.
BACH KHOA Investment and Development of Solar Energy Corporation (Vietnam)
The Solar Experience Space at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology in Vietnam is a zero-energy building used for student education. Students can get practical experience with new products and technological solutions used for HVAC of the building, which includes solar PV, solar thermal installations and heat pumps. This project was one of the winners because “its integrated approach makes it especially relevant for the next generation of engineers and solar professionals in a region with a high potential for PV deployment. It actively demonstrates what can be achieved with PV technology in Vietnamese homes and businesses, and by the solar engineers of the future.”
BayWa r.e. Solar Projects GmbH (Germany)
The solar plus storage system for providing irrigation on the AKTC farm in Zambia uses a water reservoir for additional storage. The PV installation ensures an uninterrupted water supply and water management on the crop fields, and generates energy for the irrigation of 90,000 square miles of arable land.
EM-ONE Energy Solutions Canada (Canada)
The project “Borno Solar Phase 1” powers three hospitals in a conflict region in Northeast Nigeria. The solar system makes these important healthcare centers self-sufficient and helps them save on diesel costs.
FENECON GmbH (Germany)
This Vienna, Austria, project uses energy storage devices to make the existing grid infrastructure as efficient as possible. The energy storage devices offset phase load differences and are used for peak load shutdown.
First Solar GmbH (Germany)
The 300-MW installation in California is integrated into the power grid and replaces grid services like power grid stabilization, which previously had to rely on conventional power plants. The jury chose this project as a winner because “the results of this project can be used as door openers to convince stakeholders that utility-scale solar can contribute to the reliability and stability of the grid and provide essential grid services that are today often associated with conventional generation in terms of their provision of spinning reserve.”
Fluence (USA)
The Escondido Energy Storage Array in California is one of the world’s largest lithium storage systems at 37.5 MW, and increases the share of renewable energy in the grid. It can supply 25,000 customers with power for four hours and has a storage capacity of up to 150 MWh.
IBC SOLAR AG (Germany)
In Hillesheim, Germany, a battery system has increased a wastewater treatment plant’s self-sufficiency from 80% to between 92 and 95% by using electrical energy generated from sewer gas combustion. This saves on the purchase of 35,000 kWh of grid-supplied power.
Solaria Corporation (USA)
The Cornell Tech Campus in New York was designed as a zero-energy building and is supplied with energy from Manhattan’s largest solar installation at 855 kW to be aesthetically integrated into a new build.
Trojan Battery (USA)
A container system supplied with solar-plus-storage has provided a village in Tanzania with power for the first time, raising the standard of living and education for the residents and kick-starting positive economic developments like honey production.
Unlimited Energy (Australia) / TESVOLT GmbH (Germany)
The free-standing 53-kW solar installation with a 48-kWh storage system is able to run an avocado farm in Australia on 100% renewable energy. The energy generated from the 300 days of sunshine per year has done away with the reliance on diesel generators. This project won because it demonstrates the “seamless integration of two different battery technologies, resulting in a positive economic and environmental impact.”
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