Eolian Solar Car begins its next race with a visit to La Moneda

On Tuesday, December 20, at noon, President Michelle Bachelet crossed Moneda Street to see the Eolian Fénix, parked in front of the Government Palace in the Plaza de la Constitución. It was recognition from the country's highest authority for the work carried out since 2007 by students from the Faculties of Engineering and Design of the University of Chile. About 20 of the 50 students from the Eolian Team brought the car to La Moneda and awaited the President along with Energy Minister Andrés Rebolledo; the Pro-Rector of the University of Chile, Rafael Epstein; the dean of the Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences of the UCH, Patricio Aceituno; the president of CONICYT, Mario Hamuy, and the director of SERC Chile and one of the creators of the Eolian, Rodrigo Palma.

Bachelet began her speech by wishing great success for the 2,000-kilometer journey to Arica, which the Eolian Fénix will begin on January 9, and expressing hope that it serves as successful preparation for the World Solar Challenge to be held in Australia in October 2017.

And she added: “Your success is also the success of an entire country that aspires to be a leader in renewable energies and continues to move forward in this regard, both in the public and private sectors. And universities, of course, are essential on this path.”

The dean of the FCFM-UCH, Patricio Aceituno, highlighted the University of Chile, “capable of taking on great challenges,” and spoke of solar energy as “the future of the country.”

“Here are the representatives of Chilean youth as icons of what youth in the country should be, addressing issues of national importance and demonstrating that solar energy is the future of the country,” said the dean.

The dean of the Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences and the Eolian captains Sebastián Díaz and Javier Norambuena explain the operation of the Eolian Fénix to the President

At the end, in a ceremony that lasted longer than expected, the President spoke with the FCFM-UCH students, asked them about the car, listened to their opinions, and posed for a selfie with them. She also shared an experience from India, where she learned about a project that trained illiterate women in solar cell assembly. “We could replicate it here,” she remarked.