Engineers, e-mobility and a sense of mission – why we support Solaride
If someone had said ten years ago that Estonian students would race a self-built solar car at the World Championships, it might have sounded like a joke. Today, that smile has turned into genuine admiration, and we proudly stand beside Solaride’s bold yet smart initiative.
The collaboration between Enefit and Solaride officially began in 2024. The idea, of course, emerged earlier – like all good ideas, it needed time to mature.
“Solaride brings together three key themes for us: solar energy, e-mobility, and the next generation of engineers. It’s a project that speaks of the future but acts today,” says Kristjan Kuhi, Member of the Management Board of Eesti Energia. Indeed, Solaride’s interdisciplinary educational and cooperation platform has involved over 200 high school students, university students, mentors, and partners over the years.
What does this collaboration mean?
In addition to financial support, we contribute knowledge, events, and mentoring.
Here are just a few examples of our joint activities:
- Enefit engineers met with the Solaride team to discuss technical solutions for the vehicle – including how to make the solar car go even faster (not just downhill).
- Solaride’s board shadowed us at work, and we trained their youth on career topics. After all, engineers aren’t born – they’re made.
- In May 2025, we hosted an event for the Solaride community, bringing together students, alumni, partners, and the Solaride III Enefit solar car itself.
- Solariders actively participated in the Energy Step 2025 internship program – because what’s summer without a solar car?
- At the three-day Build-a-Thon 2024 green energy hackathon, our engineers mentored young innovators.
- We brought the Solaride I solar car to the Energy Discovery Centre so everyone could explore it. Now, visitors can also build solar car models there.
- We screened the Solaride film for employees across all our home markets.
- We showcased the Solaride II car at ViruFest, the Latvian EV Race, and Positron.
Solaride is your project too
“If you believe in youth and a green future, then know this is your project too. Solaride is like a startup that grows engineers, inspires young people, and shows how exciting the green transition can be. As Solaride says – it’s a chance to do the impossible. With Solaride III Enefit, our youth have already shown the world that Estonian engineering is world-class,” says Kristjan Kuhi.
This autumn, Solaride will begin designing a new car model and recruiting students from across Estonia. So, young and driven minds – get involved in building the next solar car!
Kevin Kaljumäe, CEO of Solaride
Solaride’s goal is to grow people: to give students their first real experience in engineering, leadership, and teamwork, while proving that bold ideas can become reality. To achieve this, we need companies that support us financially and also open doors through mentoring, knowledge sharing, and real-world challenges. I believe the greatest impact is created when companies like Enefit stand beside us as partners and help shape a new generation of leaders and technology pioneers.