DutchSA initiated a Dutch event at the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge and co-organised this with the South Australian Tourism Commission, The Bridgestone World Solar Challenge Team, The Government of South Australia, the City of Adelaide and The Consulate of The Netherlands in Sydney.

​The focus of the event was fast tracking the renewable industry and all in attendance, not in the least the chief executive officer of SA Power Networks and the Minister for Energy and Mining, are fully aligned with this mission.

On 13 October solar power set a stunning new milestone in the renewable state of South Australia, reaching 80 per cent of total demand and accounting for more than 70 per cent of demand over four hours in the middle of the day.

​Design lead of Stella Era (Team Eindhoven) showing off the 4 time winner of the World Solar Challenge  Cruiser Class Competition.
Team Eindhoven also won the Smart Grid Pitching competition. Their car has 8 radars to allow itself to find a spot in the sun to recharge its internal battery using its 5 square meter (!) of roof top solar panels and act as a mobile charging station for EV cars running out of power without a fixed charging station in sight!

We couldn't have wished for a better start: the first DutchSA Business event was a great success. Around 80 Business contacts attended the Renewable Energy Function, marking the finish of the World Solar Challenge. Although the Dutch Nuon team did not win this time, we heard first hand from their team leaders what a heroic battle they fought to become second. Their team mentor, former space shuttle astronaut Wubbo Okkels, gave us an inspiring view of the future of sustainable energy. Believe it or not, but in ten years time we will all have a solar panel on our roof.  And solar charged cars are almost a certainty!