IIT-B’s SHUNYA Team Clinches Second Position in USA’s Solar Decathlon Competition

Grew Energy & IIT Bombay collaborate For R&D In Photovoltaics

The United States-based Solar Decathlon, a collegiate competition that challenges challenge students to design and build high-performance, low-carbon buildings, recently concluded the results. The Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay’s SHUNYA (Sustainable Housing for Urbanizing Nation by its Young Aspirants) has acheived the second position in the solar challenge.

The team from IIT-B had come up with a house designed to combat air quality challenges in Mumbai, which witnesses high levels of humidity.

Solar Decathlon saw participation from 32 team globally. SHUNYA was representing India.

The Project That Won Hearts

The SHUNYA team had designed a house boasting of 14-kW solar PV plant. It also had an advanced in-house automation system, controlling the dehumidifier system, which had also been developed in-house by the team, keeping in mind the humidity levels in coastal areas. The house makes use of almost 80% less water than an everyday house. This has been made possible through water efficiency fixtures, recycling system, and rainwater harvesting system.

The team entailed over 50 students that have backgrounds in engineering, architectural, and management from over 16 departments of IIT-B.

IITs are a hub of innovative ideas and keep coming up with pathbreaking ideas to advance clean energy solutions. Recently, The Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee) and General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC Re) signed a partnership agreement to develop solar window technology that will enhance the solar power generation in India and lead to greater sustainable development. The new window solar technology will harness electricity during the daytime and reduce reliance on traditional electricity sources. This will eliminate carbon footprint and enable the households and business owners to save on power bills while stepping up sustainable living.