Eurener, a Spanish manufacturer of solar photovoltaic modules, sponsors the Atacama Solar Challenge (ASC), the first solar car race in Latin America, a single event also known as Desafío Solar Atacama. It will be held in northern Chile from September 30 to October 2 this year and aims to develop solar technology in Chile and Latin America. It will involve 32 teams from 7 countries that will travel 933 kilometres in the area that receives the highest levels of solar radiation in the world. The competition is divided into two categories: Atacama Solar Challenge, for high-tech vehicles powered only by solar energy, and La Ruta Solar for tricycles powered by solar and human energy.
The company has an agreement of academic research with the University of Chile focused on solar energy. One point is to award scholarships to students participating teams in the ASC who are creating their own cars for the race.
Vanessa Nolasco, Head of R & D, and Luis Catalá, Director of Expansion, travelled to Chile representing Eurener where they could meet the winners of the scholarships for delivery to them the first solar equipment, created specifically outside the usual production line of the factory in Spain due to its specific characteristics. These cells are encapsulated in a special size of 2×3 and 1×4 rows, without tedlar or glass, designed with the aim of achieving maximum efficiency in the surface of the vehicles where they will be installed.
The meeting, held at the Faculty of Physical Sciences and Mathematics at the University of Chile (FCFM) were also invited other teams competing in the high-tech category of the Atacama Solar Challenge. All students had the opportunity to participate in the online conference held with factory located in the Spanish town of Bigastro to ask directly to the technicians who make them, led by Vivien Magro, Head of Quality of the factory, about the operation and use of cells in the prototypes being developed.
The firm already has an office in Chile, from which different photovoltaic projects are being developed for electric and mining industries mainly. This new office is framed in its expansion plans for the Americas, to respond in depth several photovoltaic projects are underway in the region and the extensive network of new customers.
