Seminar - Rodrigo Palma

Speaker

Professor Rodrigo Palma, Electrical Engineering Department, University of Chile

Topic

Challenges for the Chilean Solar Development

Abstract

Chile offers unique conditions for the development of solar energy solutions. The new government is drawing up an ambitious road map for the development of solar energy. Some visions include the positioning of Chile as a regional solar energy exporter. This presentation examines this trend, based on the development of the power sector, the power market, analysis models, innovation opportunities, and the public policies implemented over the past ten years. It provides an overview of the solar energy scenario for Latin America and examines the technical challenges faced by the various solar technologies, and it discusses transmission systems and storage solutions. The issues of citizen empowerment, community engagement, and sustainable development in the context of solar energy development in the region are discussed along with the need for development of the human capital required to address alternative solar energy challenges from a technical and social standpoint.

Speaker's biography

Rodrigo Palma-Behnke (IEEE Senior Member) received his B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in electrical engineering from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and a Dr.-Ing. from the University of Dortmund, Germany. He is an associate professor in the Electrical Engineering Department at the University of Chile and Director of the the Solar Research Center (SERC Chile). His research field is the planning and operation of electrical systems in competitive power markets and new technologies.

Invited by Professor Claudio Cañizares