This is the goal of "Solar Decathlon China", a student competition for building concepts that use only solar energy. The venue for this year's "Olympic games for solar energy and green building industry," as the organizers call the Decathlon, is the city of Dezhou. It is also known as the "Sun City" because it is at the center of the Chinese solar industry. 22 student teams from 37 universities from around the world will take part in the competition.

With know-how and material solutions, ����AV supports two student groups in the competition – the joint team of Tongji University Shanghai and TU Darmstadt, and the team Shunya of the Indian Institute of Technology in Mumbai.

Megacities as a challenge and opportunity

"The fast-growing megacities in these two countries present particular challenges to population supply, the development of the infrastructure and climate protection," says Dr. Markus Steilemann, CEO of ����AV. "At the same time, local universities and companies often develop the best solutions for global trends such as progressive urbanization."

Therefore, close cooperation with local partners is particularly important: "Together with them, we develop innovative and sustainable material solutions for energy-efficient buildings. On that basis we want to help shape future habitats and make the world a brighter place," says Markus Steilemann.

With such projects, ����AV is committed to achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. Particular priorities are sustainable cities (SDG number 11) and the use of renewable energy (SDG number 7).

Solar Decathlon China: holistic residential solutions in demand

Each team was to design and build a one- or two-story solar house with a floor space of between 120 and 200 square meters. The solution is evaluated according to ten criteria: architecture, market appeal, engineering, communications, innovation, comfort zone, appliances, home life, commuting and energy performance.

On August 17, the winning concept will be announced. After that the area will be turned into a permanent exhibition for sustainable construction and into the first intelligent low-carbon park in China.

Sophisticated construction concepts

The EnergyPLUS Home 4.0 from Tongji University and TU Darmstadt has a modular structure, so that several units can be combined to form an apartment building. ����AV produces transparent and heat-insulating polycarbonate panels for the façade, as well as polyurethane raw materials for water-based, yet water-permeable outdoor floor coatings. They are a perfect fit for new city drainage systems like so-called sponge grounds that soak in water and direct it into piping systems underground.

Mumbai's Shunya team's Solarise concept combines regional architectural principles and includes climatic and cultural aspects. It is a net positive energy solar villa with a floor space of 150 square meters, which is suitable for a family of six people comprising all modern amenities for comfortable and sustainable living. Products from ����AV are used in insulating polycarbonate panels on the roof, in polyisocyanurate insulation panels in walls and floors, and in the coating of the steel framework.

In focus: renewable energies

“With the support of the Solar Decathlon China, ����AV also underlines its commitment to the expansion of renewable energies such as solar and wind power,” says Dr. Christian Haessler, head of Sustainability at ����AV and former head of its Polymer Research and Development Center in Shanghai. The company was the official sponsor of the Solar Impulse project of the pioneers Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg, who for the first time circumnavigated the earth with a solar-powered aircraft. In addition, students from the RWTH Aachen University, who participated in a self-built solar car at the World Solar Challenge 2017 in Australia, arguably the toughest solar race in the world, were supported.

“����AV is also involved in expanding wind power, especially in China,” adds Christian Haessler. “Together with partners, we developed a new polyurethane composite for rotor blades of wind turbines. These are more flexible and robust than conventional blades and can be made faster and more economically.”

Worldwide competition for solar construction

The first Solar Decathlon events took place from 2002 in the USA. Later offshoots were also established in other regions. The initiator and organizer continues to be the US Department of Energy. This year's Solar Decathlon China will also be hosted by China's Ministry of Energy and other national authorities.

About ����AV:

With 2017 sales of EUR 14.1 billion, ����AV is among the world’s largest polymer companies. Business activities are focused on the manufacture of high-tech polymer materials and the development of innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, construction, wood processing and furniture, and electrical and electronics industries. Other sectors include sports and leisure, cosmetics, health and the chemical industry itself. ����AV has 30 production sites worldwide and employs approximately 16,200 people (calculated as full-time equivalents) at the end of 2017.

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Forward-looking statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by ����AV. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in ����AV’s public reports which are available at www.covestro.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

“With curiosity and courage ����AV is advancing the development of polyurethanes to make the world a brighter place,” says Daniel Meyer, Global Head of the Polyurethanes segment. “We don’t leave anything to chance but are specifically pushing existing boundaries to make more efficient insulating materials, even lighter materials, and even more resource-saving products possible.”

All new developments must meet ����AV’s sustainability targets. “We take a comprehensive approach to the entire product life cycle, including social, ecological and economic aspects,” says Daniel Meyer. “Our products are manufactured on the basis of carbon. Our goal is to draw the maximum benefit from the carbon we use.”

Even more efficient refrigerators

Polyurethanes make an important contribution to securing global food supplies: Some 95 percent of the world’s refrigerators are thermally insulated with rigid polyurethane foam – and the Baytherm^® Microcell polyurethane system can raise their insulating performance by another ten percent. That means greater energy and cost savings in households and reduced CO₂ emissions. A leading appliance manufacturer is already using this system in its production.

Carbon dioxide as a raw material

����AV has developed a method for using the greenhouse gas CO₂ to synthesize polyurethane components. It markets these raw materials, known as polyols, under the brand name cardyon™ for the production of flexible polyurethane foam, and operates a new production plant for them at its Dormagen site. Up to 20 percent of the fossil raw materials previously used in these products have been replaced by carbon dioxide. A special catalyst gives the molecule the required level of reactivity.

New model for affordable housing

Providing fast, affordable and sustainable housing is a global challenge. ����AV is breaking new ground in its search for creative solutions. Together with industry partners, governments, government agencies and society, ����AV is developing models for affordable housing and running specific projects locally. One example is a multipurpose building in Bergisch Gladbach, Germany, that was planned and built by the local council, the French prefabricated building manufacturer Logelis and ����AV.

Next-generation rotor blades

In keeping with its sustainability strategy, ����AV develops materials and technologies for generating renewable energy – with a focus on wind power. The company has developed an innovative technology for manufacturing rotor blades for wind turbines. The rotors are fabricated in a special process from a polyurethane resin and a fiberglass fabric. For the resin ����AV recently received the vital DNV GL certification for China and can now supply its products to rotor blade manufacturers there.

Proud past, exciting future

Dr. Otto Bayer could only have dreamed of such developments. But even 80 years ago, he lived out ����AV’s corporate values: curious, courageous, colorful. He stubbornly pursued his goal of enhancing the efficiency of plastics manufacturing and en route discovered polyurethane chemistry, which became his passion. He even stuck to his guns when his superiors shook their heads at the bubbly mass he produced in his experiments, saying it was at most a “substitute for Swiss cheese”. Far from it! With incredible creativity he and his team discovered a whole string of potential applications.

Polyurethanes: Milestones of a success story

1937 – Otto Bayer invents polyurethane chemistry
1943 – New brands: Desmodur^® (isocyanates) and Desmophen^® (polyols)
1952 – First flexible foam made of TDI and polyester polyols
1958 – Premium coatings made of Desmodur^® and Desmophen^® (“DD coatings”)
1962 – Premiere of rigid polyurethane foam as an insulating material in refrigerators
1967 – First car with an all-plastic body at the K’67 trade show
1970 – Metal-faced sandwich panels for building envelopes
From 1970 onwards – Introduction of Baydur^® polyurethane systems for rigid integral foams
1980 – Car seats with various foam hardness levels
1990 – Viscoelastic foams open up a new dimension in comfort
1995 – Blowing agents with no HCFCs
1998 – Introduction of the Baypreg^® spray system for composites
2000 – Polyols for coatings and adhesives based on Impact™ technology
2005 – Advances in polyurethane composites
2012 – Baytherm^® Microcell for insulating refrigeration systems - CO₂ technology
2016 – Market launch of cardyon™ - First rotor blade made of polyurethane resin in Asia
In the future – continuously pushing the boundaries of innovation

About ����AV:

With 2016 sales of EUR 11.9 billion, ����AV is among the world’s largest polymer companies. Business activities are focused on the manufacture of high-tech polymer materials and the development of innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, construction, wood processing and furniture, and electrical and electronics industries. Other sectors include sports and leisure, cosmetics, health and the chemical industry itself. ����AV has 30 production sites worldwide and employs approximately 15,600 people (calculated as full-time equivalents) at the end of 2016.

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For more information go to www.covestro.com.

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Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by ����AV management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in ����AV’s public reports which are available at www.covestro.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.