Thai students represent SE Asia in solar energy competition in France

KMUTT School of Architecture and Design dean Weeraphan Shinawatra said KMUTT – Thailand’s first and Southeast Asia’s only university to be selected for Solar Decathlon Europe – was one of 20 collegiate teams selected from 44 teams in 23 countries. Only four Asian countries will take part in the solar decathlon, being held in Versailles in France – namely, Thailand, Taiwan, Japan and India. 

In this contest, initiated by the US Department of Energy in 2002, contestants are challenged to design, build, and operate the most attractive, effective, and energy-efficient solar-powered house powered by no more than five kilowatts.

“The most challenging part of the competition is that the “SDE KMUTT Team”, must also build the house,” said Weeraphan. The house is budgeted at Bt4 million and the institute is seeking sponsorship from the private sector for the project, he said. 

Featuring Thai folk wisdom and a unique Thai design, the house, which is also equipped with a pontoon for tackling floods, will be kept tightly shut while on display in France, due to the colder climate. 

Using a modular system that enables the house to be disassembled, replaced or expanded without destroying the original structure, it will first be built and tested at the university’s Bangmod and Bang Khunthien campuses, before being re-assembled in France for the contest. The house’s electrical supply uses solar energy, including solar-powered air conditioners that can produce both hot and cold air, an insulated roof and heat-resistant walls. 

The team’s architecture division member Worapon Leelasathapaponkit said the house would normally have a high basement to avoid flooding, but since event organisers wanted the house to have access for disabled people, the team lowered the basement and built an access ramp. Worapon said he was honoured to be a part of the contest. 

The team’s electrical division member Nattakit Leardwanitkul said the house wiring had been set up to use as little energy as possible with solar-cell panels storing energy to be used with house electrical appliances. 

Made up of four sections that can be fitted together, the house is also foldable. 

This will enable the sections to be packed into four containers and shipped to France.

The team’s adviser Dr Acharawan Chutarat said the competition was an important learning experience for the students, who would be able to put their skills learned to good use in the future.