As most people will know by now, we're burning fossil fuels at rates far exceeding their creation, and emitting greenhouse gases at rates far exceeding our planet's ability to deal with it. Most scientists agree that one or both will become a very large problem in one way or another very soon. We need to start solving both problems in the near future (basically, now) or we'll be in serious trouble. One of the problems with this is that many people seem to think that it's either not necessary or not possible to solve these problems – and that's where solar racing comes in.

Firstly, solar racing shows the general public in an exciting way that renewable energy sources have actual applications. In many countries around the world solar racing gets quite a bit of media attention, especially if a country has one or more teams in the race. People actually see that a vehicle with a few square metres of solar cells can travel at motorway speeds for extended periods of time. It might give some people just that little push to have solar panels installed on their roof.

Besides this effect I also think solar racing is great PR for technical studies. In my opinion, the world has enough lawyers, economists and politicians - the people who are going to solve the problems in the field of sustainable energy are the scientists and engineers. It’s not just the solar racing events doing great PR for technical education, it’s the students themselves as well. All or nearly all solar teams take the their respective solar cars on tour and educate high schoolers about solar racing, renewable energy, vehicle engineering, etc.

Secondly, as nearly all solar racing teams consist of students, every year of solar racing events delivers a couple of hundred students who have had hands-on experience with ultra-efficiënt vehicles, renewable energy, etc. All of these students will carry those experiences with them when they graduate and move into the business world. Many will end up in the automotive or aviation industry, and their solar racing experience might encourage and enable them to make the cars and airplanes of the future just that much more efficient. Others will go on to start their own companies in the field of renewable energy, sustainable transport and the like, and influence other people that way.

Finally, energy and environmental issues aside, solar racing happens in an atmosphere of intense but friendly competition. Solar teams that are from countries that are very nearly at war help each other out when faced with technical problems or logistical problems like key car components being stuck in customs. I really can’t think of any other sport that sees this kind of cooperation and understanding between people from all nations of the world. That’s sustainable, too.

I sincerely believe that all these effects of solar racing will have a non-trivial positive effect on the adoption of renewable energy sources throughout the world. That’s why I think solar racing is meaningful and important, and that’s why I spend so much time running www.solarracing.org. I want to encourage this fantastic sport in any way I can.