The Solar Challenge is an initiative of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro) through NIDES (Núcleo Interdisciplinar para o Desenvolvimento Social – Interdisciplinary Centre for Social Development), in partnership with Enel and with support from the mayor of Búzios. The project in inspired by the Frisian Solar Challenge, a European event for solar vessels that takes place every two years in the Netherlands.
In 2017 an even larger number of teams is expected to be participate to the competition. It will be another opportunity to share knowledge and experiences about sustainable energy in an environment that is a lot more educational and productive than competitive. Regardless of who comes first, in this contest everybody wins.