The objective is to reinforce the potential of solar energy in its practical application for undergraduate students from various universities across the country.
The Solar Energy Research Center (SERC Chile) successfully completed a new edition of its Solar Route program, an initiative aimed at strengthening the formation of advanced human capital and student mobility, promoting applied research and scientific outreach regarding solar energy development in northern Chile.
The program brought together undergraduate students from the universities that belong to the SERC Chile conglomerate, with the purpose of introducing them to the potential and challenges of solar energy in real application contexts.
For the coordinator of the Science and Society Area of SERC Chile, Lorena Cornejo, this program opens doors for students from different parts of the country to deepen their applied research in solar energy. “This initiative, which already has four versions, was created to promote the formation of advanced human capital, inter-university collaboration, and territorial engagement, connecting scientific research with the local realities of the Atacama Desert.”
As such, the first stage of the Solar Route took place between September 22 and 25 in the Arica and Parinacota region, under the framework of the Ayllu Solar project. Twelve students from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Universidad de Concepción, Universidad de Chile, Universidad de Antofagasta, Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María, and Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez participated in the event.
During the stay, the students participated in an initial workshop and conducted technical visits to the Willka Photovoltaic Plant, the Visviri and Pampa Concordia projects of Ayllu Solar, as well as the Solar Training Yard of the Liceo Bicentenario Pablo Neruda. Additionally, they visited communities in Zapahuira, Putre, and Lake Chungará, where they learned about local energy sustainability experiences and territorial engagement.
Ayllu Solar and AtaMoS-Tec Projects
The second phase of the program took place between September 22 and 24 in Antofagasta, in collaboration with the AtaMoS-Tec project. On this occasion, 14 students from various universities participated. The itinerary included workshops, laboratory visits, and tours of the PSDA and LALCKTUR plants, where participants observed the operation of advanced photovoltaic technologies and applied research processes in the Atacama Desert.
Within this framework, students had the opportunity to learn in depth about two emblematic SERC Chile projects: Ayllu Solar, in Arica, and AtaMoS-Tec, in Antofagasta, both aimed at linking scientific research with territorial reality and promoting sustainable solutions for the country.
The program not only provided technical and practical knowledge through guided visits to laboratories and solar plants but also fostered interaction among students from different universities, creating spaces for reflection, collaboration, and debate on the studies and challenges of solar energy in Chile.
Finally, Solar Route 2025 allowed participants to experience an intercultural journey, learn about the social and geographical differences of the north of the country, and understand how solar energy can transform communities and contribute to sustainable development.
View photo gallery of the Solar Route 2025
