The CEO of Formula E has told Next Energy News that he views solar as the “future of world energy”.

In an exclusive interview with Solar Power Portal’s sister site, Alejandro Agag said that, while it’s key focus was to “change the perception of electric cars”, the championship also has a focus on upstream energy developments.

Agag explained: “We want to focus on the upstream we need to focus on where the energy that powers those cars is generated. And of course in Formula E we believe that solar is the future of energy in the world.”

Agag was talking at the final race weekend of the inaugural Formula E championship at Battersea Park in London. Lightsource Renewable Energy was unveiled as a key sponsor of the event, providing solar energy to help power various aspects of the event across the weekend.

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Image credit: FIA Formula E Championship YouTube channel

Commenting on the championship’s partnership with Lightsource, Agag added: “For us it's really fantastic to come into this partnership with Lightsource because it's exactly where we want to go.

“So the safety car will be charged with energy that comes from the sun, even the tickets, the people coming in, the scanners will be powered with energy that comes from the sun, and I think that's a great symbol of how Formula E and solar energy, and Lightsource can, and will, work together in the future.”

Agag added that the championship would ideally like to source all of its required energy from solar for future races.

Lightsource Renewable Energy installed a ‘mini solar farm’ at Battersea Park in conjunction with four energy storage devices that were filled up at a nearby solar farm before being transported onsite. The solar electricity was used to power the support vehicles, the ticket scanners and the big screen in the park.

Solar Power Portal will be posting various videos in the near future from its time at this weekend’s Formula E race.