SOLAR CUP 2012
The annual Latvia’s Solar Cup competition took place at the Institute of Solid State Physics, UL on Saturday, May 19. The event was opened by the director of ISSP UL, academician Andris Šternbergs and director of Riga Energy Agency Dr.sc.ing. Maija Rubīna. It was followed by solar vehicles parade – joint start for solar cars and solar boats.
Competition in various categories took place – People’s Class I and II, Master Class I and II, which competed in Power, Speed, Water and Air tracks.
There were also radio controlled solar cars, boats that showed the skill and confidence of their pilots. Of course, the electric-hydrogen car of the ISSP UL was started up and drove until its gas tank was empty. After the competition, short, informative lectures took place, including one of Jürgen Zick of Eisenach University (Germany), who told about the renewable energy policy in Germany and the Solar Cup competition in Kassel. Director of Riga Energy Agency Maija Rubīna spoke about the Riga Energy Action Plan, about the role of renewable energy sources in this plan and the success of CCFI (Climate Change Financial Instrument) projects concerning insulation of municipal buildings. Solar energy perspectives in Latvia were presented by Dzintars Jaunzems, Solar Energy Association of Latvia, Valdis Bisters, director of Climate Policy and Technologies Department (CCFI) at Ministry of Environment Protection and Regional Development, shared his experience with CCFI project calls, including support for solar energy usage for people.
A brief lecture on solar energy in general was given by Pumpuri Secondary School students Ēriks Zvaigzne and Jānis Ķešāns, whereas Liepaja University students with Kristaps Daģis in forefront shared their experience in laminating and making big solar panels. Jānis Latvels, a doctoral student from ISSP UL, Laboratory of Organic Materials reported on “Organic solar elements – research, methods and applications”.
The event was organized with the support of ERDF project „Support for International Collaboration Projects in Science and Technologies at the ISSP UL” No 2010/0204/2DP/2.1.1.2.0/10/APIA/VIAA/010.
The prize pool and lunch for the participants was provided by: ISSP UL, University of Latvia, National Research Program „LATENERGI”, Latvian Academy of Science, Latvian Council of Science, European Parliament of Information Office, European Commission Representation in Latvia, Riga Energy Agency, Education board of Education, Culture and Sports Department of Riga City Council, Publishing House Lielvārds, L'Oreal, Viessmann, Ilustrētā Zinātne, Perpetuum Nova.
