Dissemination Department: Open Door Day

ITER´s Open Door day helps the population understand the activities carried out by the Institute and the Renewable Energies, complementing during the year the rest of activities that part daily from the department.

These Open Door days started on May 3rd of 2003, with the holding in the first ITER Eolica Festival, unifying a series of activities under the idea of promoting a positive attitude towards renewable energies and respect the environment in general.

ITER contributed to this festival providing its facilities and conducting its first open day, which included, among others, the following activities:

• Energy-related documentary projection;
• Lecture celebration;
• Guided tours of the aerodynamic tunnel for civil testing;
• Guided tours to the Bioclimatic Houses;
• Guided tours of the Technological Walkway.

These activities fall within the program of the festival which also included:

• juggling workshops
• therapeutic massage
• projections in water screens
• exhibition of recycled works
• three music areas.

This festival had a great reception since the beginning and because of the opportunity offered to the Institute to make itself known it has been maintained as an annual celebration.

On July 14th of the year 2007, took place the fifth edition of the Eolica Festival which surpassed the number of visitors of the previous editions. On this occasion, some 17,000 people could enjoy a day dedicated to renewable energies in an environment deeply influenced by them such as ITER facilities.

To the regular site visits, this year added up a visit tour to the photovoltaic plant, which caused great interest among the audience that not only was eager to watch closely this great photovoltaic plant, but also wanted information on investment opportunities in this technology.

In collaboration with the Energy Agency of the Island of Tenerife, various activities were carried out. Within the most outstanding, which more public attracted, were the new workshops:

• the Solar Scalextric
• the Solar Boats
• Mounting Course of a Solar Kitchen together with a demonstration of an operating one.