In a participatory session, SERC Chile met with beneficiary families of the Casa Solar program in the commune of Tocopilla, aiming to resolve technical doubts, gather experiences, and strengthen community knowledge about photovoltaic energy, in an effort to consolidate a just energy transition in the region.

Seremi of Energy for the Antofagasta Region, Dafne Pino

The Antofagasta region, with an average annual solar radiation of more than 5,500 kWh/m², is one of the most privileged in the world for solar energy generation. In this context, Chile has reached more than 10,680 MW of installed photovoltaic capacity, consolidating its position as a leader in the adoption of renewable energies in Latin America. This growth has been driven by exceptional natural conditions, and the country continues to advance in its energy transition.

It was in this setting that researchers from the Solar Energy Research Center (SERC Chile) gave an informative talk to beneficiaries of the Casa Solar program in Tocopilla, aiming to learn about their experience with the photovoltaic systems installed in their homes and to resolve doubts regarding their operation. The session, which combined listening sessions and technical education, was led by researchers Douglas Olivares and Mauricio Trigo, along with SERC Chile director Rodrigo Palma, with the presence and participation of the Seremi of Energy of Antofagasta, Dafne Pino Riffo. During the session, neighbors had the opportunity to ask questions about the use, maintenance, and performance of residential solar systems.

Meanwhile, the director of SERC Chile, Rodrigo Palma, highlighted the importance of transferring technical knowledge from academia to communities. “As an organization, we work to ensure that information about photovoltaic systems reaches those who are actually experiencing the energy transformation in their homes in a clear manner, facilitating understanding through accessible language. This is an essential part of a just energy transition,” he commented.

During the meeting, the academics took the opportunity to provide technical guidance on how to maximize equipment utilization and addressed key aspects of distributed generation and energy efficiency.

Director of SERC Chile, Rodrigo Palma

This program has begun to become a model for other regions of the country. It is projected that more than 1,500 homes in the communes of Tocopilla, Mejillones, Taltal, and Sierra Gorda will have solar panels by 2026. This progress is just one part of the regional effort to increase the share of renewable energies in Chile's energy matrix.

The session allowed for the gathering of key observations on the access, understanding, and sustainability of the implemented energy solutions, and underscored the need to continue advancing education and support for communities in their energy transition process.