Page 299 - ISES SWC50

2008
• Andasol 1, the first commercial 50 MW trough plant with 7.5 hours of molten salt thermal energy storage
began operation in Spain.
• A US 30% investment tax credit became available for CSP plants and States increased their RPS targets,
which opened a market opportunity for CSP plants in the US.

10.6 Solar Architecture Buildings 2000-2009

2002
• The U.S. Department of Energy launces the Solar Decathlon. Today, the 10 contests that are the foundation
of the Solar Decathlon inspire student teams to design and build highly efficient buildings powered by
renewables, while also taking into consideration affordability, resilience, and occupant health.

2003
• On 1st January 2003 The Australian Building Codes Board introduced energy efficiency measures for
houses into the Building Code of Australia (BCA). It has been adopted by all Australian states and territories
which did not already have an equivalent system in place. Various states have since adopted requirements
for new houses to be either 5- or 6-star standard . The 6-star standard requires the building fabric to have
a 6-star energy rating along requirements to either have rainwater tank for flushing the toilet or a solar hot
water system.

2004
• German Architect Rolf Disch designs and builds The Sun Ship (Das Sonnenschiff) which is a small
community in Freiburg Germany that is run entirely by solar energy.

2005
• A private company launched the world’s first standardised passive house in Ireland, this concept makes the
design and construction of passive house a standardised process.

2006
• In December, the UK government announced that by 2016 all new homes in England will be zero energy
buildings.
• The Masdar City (United Arab Emirates) planned solar and renewable city south east of Abu Dhabi is
initiated with construction starting in 2008. IRENA’s headquarters is located in Masdar City.

2007
• In October, the Malaysian Energy Centre (PTM) successfully completed the development and construction
of the PTM Zero Energy Office (ZEO) Building.
• The Building Technologies Program of the US Department of Energy has set the strategic goal to achieve
“marketable zero energy homes in 2020 and commercial zero energy buildings in 2025”. On a state level,
California has committed to making all new commercial buildings and 50% of existing commercial buildings
net-zero by 2030.

2009
• The 71 story zero energy office buildings the Pearl River Tower , opens in Gunagzhou China.
• Singapore’s first zero-energy building was launched in October at the inaugural Singapore Green Building
Week. The retrofitted building was on the campus of the Building Construction Authority (BCA) Academy.

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