Engineers Mauro Henríquez and Abdiel Mallco became Chile's first PhDs in Solar Energy after completing the PhD in Solar Energy at the University of Antofagasta, the first program on the subject taught in the country, which was promoted and supported by SERC Chile.

“Corrosion study in molten salts containing lithium nitrate: monitoring through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and mechanical performance of materials in CSP plants” is Mallco’s doctoral thesis. Henríquez’s is titled “Proposal of LiNO3 as a solar thermal storage material: techno-economic analysis of its application in CSP plants.”

The PhD program in Solar Energy began its activities in August 2016, with an enrollment of five students. Mauro Henríquez (left) was the first and Abdiel Mallco (right) the second graduate of this program, both with maximum distinction.

For this doctoral program, directed by the academic and researcher Marcelo Cortés, SERC Chile provided laboratory support, student participation in seminars and conferences, and the opportunity to use the facilities of the center's member institutions.