Schletter Canada supplies solar mounting systems for Team Canada's entry to the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011

Windsor, Ontario — Schletter Canada, a manufacturer of solar photovoltaic (PV) mounting systems supplied the mounting system used in Team Canada's entry in the Solar Decathlon taking place now in Washington D.C. Team Canada's entry, called the Technology Residence, Traditional Living (TRTL) or "Turtle" is a collaboration of Canadian First Nation and Team Canada, designed to create a sustainable home meeting the cultural living requirements of the First Nation people.

"Schletter manufacturers a product for residential flush mount systems, which was used on this design, but with some atypical requirements," says Wolfgang Fritz, vice president of engineering with Schletter. Mr. Fritz goes on to say that "Because of the unique roof design, to achieve a rounded look as well as a deep overhang, and high snow loads much of Canada experiences, Schletter collaborated with Team Canada to create a system that met both form and function. In the end, we are very confident of the structural integrity of the finished product as well as its esthetics."

"As usual, Schletter did the design legwork to make the rack fit the project, not the project fit the rack," says David Vonesch of SkyFire. The entire PV system was pulled together by SkyFire Energy in Calgary and the dedicated Team Canada students in Calgary where special consideration of optimizing module energy production was achieved through micro inverters on each panel, allowing for multiple module angles in one system. This unique design created the building's rounded roofline. For more information on TRTL, Team Solar or the Solar Decathlon, visit http://solardecathlon.ca.

About Schletter Canada Inc.
Schletter Canada Inc. began manufacturing in Windsor, Ontario April of 2010 in order to provide high quality solar mounting systems and services to Canada's growing solar market with more than 18 years of solar mounting experience from its parent company, Schletter GmbH. Positioned in Windsor, the company meets Ontario's high local-content with solar mounting products for roof and ground mount applications, as well as solar carports. Schletter Canada works in conjunction with Schletter Inc. which is based in Tucson, Arizona and are independent subsidiaries of Schletter GmbH, which operates subsidiaries in more than eleven countries and employees more than 1,800 people worldwide.

About SkyFire Energy
SkyFire Energy is one of Canada's largest solar EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) contractors with over 80 grid-tie photovoltaic systems operating throughout Western Canada and Ontario. Their customers include all levels of government, commercial and industrial businesses, homebuilders and residential owners. Their staff includes professional engineers, photovoltaic technicians, and experienced installation crews allowing them to provide turnkey solutions all the way from design through to installation and commissioning.

About the CenovusTRTL – Canada's Team at the 2011 Solar Decathlon
The 2011 Solar Decathlon, hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, challenges student teams from around the world to design, construct and operate energy-efficient solar-powered homes. The University of Calgary student-led Cenovus TRTL (pronounced 'turtle') is Canada's only entry into this year's competition. TRTL, which stands for "Technological Residence, Traditional Living", addresses critical issues in Aboriginal housing in Canada and was designed in collaboration with the Treaty 7 First Nations of Southern Alberta.