Solar Team Twente actively contributes to the UN Global Goals

During the kick-off of the "new" Solar Team Twente on Wednesday, November 21, the team and its partners reflected on the successful past but mainly emphasised on the ambitious future: actively contributing to the UN Global Goals.

In the past edition, the Solar Team Twente committed itself to the UN Global Goals, and in the coming year, we continue to contribute to achieving Global Goals 7, 9 and 11. "We strongly believe in solar energy as an inexhaustible and clean energy source, and we are emphasising this with the development and construction of our solar car. Additionally, this year we will again involve students from different levels of education in the solar team", says Annelies Dekker, team manager of the solar team.

Not only does the team focus on sustainable energy technology, but they also contribute to a better future for innovation and education. For example, by signing the KIVI Circular Education Deal. The Dutch Royal Institute of Engineers (In Dutch: Koninklijk Instituut Van Ingenieurs, or KIVI, the professional association of engineers in the Netherlands, is committed to improving the quality of life in society using technological solutions to social problems. By signing the deal, knowledge of Solar Team Twente is made available to various educational programs throughout the Netherlands.

During the kick-off, a team member from 2007, Niels Moshagen, talked about how the solar team inspired him to continue to meet social challenges. He is a co-founder of Mindt, a company that inspires and helps organisations to contribute to a sustainable world. Moshagen is one of many examples of former team members who continue their passion for sustainability and technology in the business world.

Some technological developments were briefly explained by Jan Lenssen, team member of Solar Team Twente in 2017. Lenssen worked with partner 3T on a Motor Controller Unit (MCU): “The development of the MCU is a good example of the challenges that Solar Team Twente meets. Our MCU is consists of Galium Nitride components, a technology that is still under development. Few companies venture into such new technologies. "

The Solar Team Twente consists of twenty students from the Saxion University of Applied Sciences and the University of Twente. In addition to the students, Solar Team Twente consists of a strong network of innovative partners. Top sport is practised together, and so is the process of building the fastest solar car in the world. The Solar Team Twente participates in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge with its solar car. The goal, of course, is to win the race, but even more important for the team is generating attention for the possibilities of solar energy and developing solutions for global challenges.

On October 13, 2019, Solar Team Twente will be at the start of the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, the most prestigious race for solar cars. With more than fifty other international participants, Solar Team Twente drives the solar car 3,000-kilometer right through the outback of Australia. The race has three different classes. Solar Team Twente is participating in the Challenger Class, the Formula 1 class for solar cars.