The prominent academic and director of the Solar Energy Research Center will be recognized on May 27th, within the framework of the 7th Proyecta Solar 2025 Seminar and Fair, for his career in promoting renewable energies and solar generation. His work has been key to the consolidation of the solar sector in the country.

With a key career in the consolidation of solar energy as a cornerstone of the energy transition in Chile, academic Rodrigo Palma Behnke, director of the Solar Energy Research Center Chile (SERC Chile) of the Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences at the University of Chile, has been honored with the Proyecta Solar 2025 Award, presented by the Chilean Solar Energy Association (ACESOL AG).

Palma, who is also a full professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering (DIE) and the Energy Center of the FCFM at the University of Chile, has led research for decades focused on energy planning, storage, and the integration of renewable energies, contributing decisively to the development of public policies, technological solutions, and human capital formation in this strategic area for the country.

"I am very happy with this important recognition, which in my case is on behalf of many people with whom we work collaboratively, starting with the nearly 100 researchers and professionals who are deeply committed to SERC Chile. I also want to thank the DIE and Energy Center community at the University of Chile, who allow me to contribute to the training of future professionals, as turning Chile into a solar country is everyone's task," the academic stated.

Since 1999, Rodrigo Palma Behnke has served as a full-time academic at the University of Chile, where he is a full professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering (DIE), a member of the Energy Center, and director of the Solar Energy Research Center Chile (SERC Chile), with which he has been associated since its inception. He is an industrial civil engineer with a major in electricity and holds a Master of Engineering Sciences from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, and a doctorate (Dr.-Ing.) from the University of Dortmund, Germany, where he was a DAAD scholar.

"For our Faculty, the recognition of our academic Rodrigo Palma is a source of pride. This award does justice to his very valuable and recognized contribution to an area as crucial for Chile as solar energy. His contribution enhances our mission as a public university, which is to contribute from science, engineering, and technology to the sustainable development of our country," stated Francisco Martínez, dean of the Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences at the University of Chile.

The recognition will be presented within the framework of the 7th Proyecta Solar Chile LATAM 2025 Seminar and Fair, to be held on May 27th in Santiago, an event that brings together key players in the energy sector to debate and showcase technological advances, regulatory challenges, and outstanding experiences regarding solar energy and self-consumption.

The Proyecta Solar Award, presented annually by the Chilean Solar Energy Association (ACESOL), seeks to highlight individuals or institutions that have contributed significantly to the development and promotion of solar energy in Chile. Among its previous editions, those honored have included former president Michelle Bachelet; former senator Antonio Horvath (posthumous); academic Roberto Román (posthumous); Carlos Finat, counselor of the National Electric Coordinator; environmentalist Sara Larraín; and the German cooperation agency GIZ.

This new recognition for Prof. Rodrigo Palma reinforces his legacy as a promoter of a clean, sustainable energy matrix with a strong scientific foundation, contributing to Chile's positioning as a solar powerhouse at the regional level.