Line 1 | Sustainable Solar Solutions
SERC Chile proposes to approach the interdisciplinary study of solar energy
This research line seeks to promote the sustainable incorporation of solar energy as a fundamental component of the national energy matrix and as a tool to reduce the carbon footprint of various technological and industrial processes.
The objective is to promote the sustainable development of the energy sector and industrial processes through the study of local conditions, environmental impact, life cycle assessment, new materials, and the optimization of solar-based industrial processes.
Principal Investigators
Ricardo Salazar González
Dr. Ricardo Andrés Salazar González has been a principal investigator at the Solar Energy Research Center (SERC Chile) since 2026. An associate professor at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC), he has over 15 years of experience in research, teaching, and university management. His work has focused on sustainable water treatment, environmental chemistry, and the pollution of aquatic systems, leading various projects funded by national and international organizations.
Since 2013, he has served as an associate researcher at SERC Chile in the solar water treatment line, training new generations of scientists through the supervision of students and researchers. His work has driven innovative projects aimed at addressing emerging challenges in water management through advanced technologies and sustainable solutions.
In addition to his academic activity, he has contributed to the development of environmental regulations, participated in international scientific societies, and actively promoted the scientific dissemination of water sustainability. His vision integrates technologies such as solar electrochemical treatments with circular economy principles, seeking effective solutions for current water problems.
Valeria del Campo
Dr. Valeria del Campo has served as a principal investigator at the Solar Energy Research Center (SERC Chile) since 2026. She holds a PhD in Physics and is currently an academic at the Federico Santa María Technical University (USM). For over a decade, she has dedicated herself to research in nanotechnology applied to solar energy. Her studies on solar module fouling and nanomaterials have enabled her to develop nanotextured surfaces with self-cleaning properties and to evaluate new materials to improve the performance of photovoltaic systems.
At the solar cell level, she has researched the use of materials such as graphene and copper to increase efficiency and reduce costs in photovoltaic technologies. She has been part of collaborative work with other researchers, incorporating the radiation conditions of the Atacama Desert and contributing to the development of mathematical models and solutions adapted to local conditions.
She has participated in SERC Chile since 2014, where she stands out for her leadership in promoting the inclusion of more women in STEM careers—an effort she also led as the institutional director of the INES-Gender project. She continues to inspire her students as the head of the Physical Civil Engineering program (USM) since 2023, with a deep commitment to human capital formation. Additionally, she was a principal investigator for the NanoBioPhysics Millennium Nucleus, demonstrating her capacity for multidisciplinary research.
