Today the international solar industry is convening at the Intersolar Europe Conference to discuss the latest market developments, trends and technological innovations in the international photovoltaic and solar thermal industry.
Munich,
Until June 10, 200 speakers and around 2,500 attendees are expected to gather at the International Congress Centre of the New Munich Trade Fair Centre and at the side events. The Intersolar Europe Conference expands on the spectrum of topics from the world’s largest exhibition for the solar industry, taking a more detailed look at each area. The Intersolar Europe Exhibition opens its doors two days after the conference begins.
Today, the Intersolar Europe Conference is kicking off at Munich’s International Congress Centre (ICM) in the New Munich Trade Fair Centre, running two days prior to and during the world’s largest exhibition for the solar industry. The conference builds on the exhibition themes and puts markets and technologies, industry and research in an international context. In addition to the areas of photovoltaics, PV production technology and solar thermal technology, the 200 talks taking place until June 10, 2011 also shed light on the development of solar thermal power plants and focus on the future of emerging and existing markets. Around 2,500 attendees are expected to be present. The Intersolar Europe Conference is supported by Hanwha SolarOne Ltd., China; ReneSola Ltd., China; LDK Solar Hi-tech Co. Ltd., China; and Oerlikon Solar Ltd., Switzerland.
Intersolar Europe Committee promises quality
This year, the Intersolar Europe Conference Committee, made up of international experts, is overseeing the event for the first time. The committee’s objective is to continue to enhance the quality of the program and to further boost the conference’s international appeal as a platform for expert discussion. The committee consists of two chairpersons, one for the area of photovoltaics and one for solar thermal technology, who direct the Advisory and Industry Boards. Professor Dr. Gerhard P. Willeke, photovoltaics coordinator at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems in Freiburg, is Chairman of Photovoltaics. The area of solar thermal technology falls under the responsibility of Dr.-Ing. Harald Drück, Head of the Research and Testing Centre for Thermal Solar Systems (TZS) at the Institute of Thermodynamics and Thermal Engineering (ITW), University of Stuttgart.
The photovoltaics conference segment
Presentations, seminars and workshops for photovoltaics deal with technological innovations and market developments in solar electricity supply. In 2010, various governments assessed and adapted their respective legal frameworks for subsidization in response to the dynamic development of photovoltaics in key European countries. For example, the German and Italian governments have approved cuts in feed-in tariffs that are due to take effect over the coming months. The medium- and long-term ramifications of these adjustments to the feed-in tariff in the relevant markets are being discussed today from 2:15pm by representatives of various national PV industry associations as part of the event “European Markets – Future Prospects.”
The Intersolar Europe Conference also sheds light on what is happening in international markets. In early 2010, the Indian government announced its National Solar Mission, which aims to install 20 GW of PV capacity by 2022. The session “India’s PV Market Development” is taking a close look at the development of the PV industry in India. Dr. Farooq Abdullah, the Indian Minister of New and Renewable Energy, is opening the event on June 8, 2010 at 10:00am.
In addition to developments in India and the MENA Region (Middle East and North Africa), the conference also shines the spotlight on growth in the US market. According to information from the California Solar Energy Industry Association (CALSEIA), the American solar market grew by 102% in 2010 with 878 megawatts (MW) installed; therefore, the cumulative installed PV capacity at the end of last year amounted to approximately 2.1 gigawatts (GW). In 2010, California once again ranked as the strongest PV market in the USA with 259 MW of PV capacity, representing 29.5% of all installations in the country. The session “California’s PV Market Development” focuses on this topic and is being held on June 7 at 10:00am.
In addition to international market developments, the conference also examines the technological trends and challenges in the industry. At the event “PV Grid Integration & Energy Storage”, for example, selected speakers take up the topic of technical applications of storage systems as well as business and cost models for commissioning such systems. Furthermore, a closer look is given to PV power plants – from the perspective of different economic and technical conditions – and the grid integration of PV systems.
Solar heating included in conference program
International solar thermal markets are currently evolving very differently. While the industry is flourishing in countries such as India and China, key European markets, such as Germany, are confronted with falling demand. Current challenges facing the international solar thermal industry are the focal point of the Intersolar Europe Conference. The presentation “ISOL Business Index: International Solar Thermal Market Development and Outlook” examines the current status of the industry and the developments that can be expected in future – topics that are also being featured in other parts of the program. The presentation forms part of the opening session and is taking place on June 7 at 11:00am.
Technological developments in the industry, regarding solar thermal power plants for example, form key areas in the conference program. Solar thermal power plants can supply electricity around the clock when operated in conjunction with heat storage systems or as hybrid power plants. They can therefore facilitate a significant rise in the level of fluctuating renewable energy in the future energy portfolio. According to projections by the International Energy Agency (IEA), solar thermal power plants will account for 12% of global power generation in 2050. Over the past few years, many solar thermal power plants have come into operation, the majority of which are located in sunny Spain. On June 9 at 10:00am, the session “Concentrating Solar Power” (CSP) not only provides an overview of the market as it stands and technology currently used in Europe, but also outlines political subsidization strategies, research and development initiatives, and specific innovative projects.
Accompanying program at the Intersolar Europe Conference
An array of practical workshops and seminars complete the Intersolar Europe Conference program. Get-togethers and networking receptions both in-between and following the individual events provide a relaxed atmosphere in which speakers and visitors can continue their discussions. Numerous accompanying events invite visitors to examine selected topic areas beyond the scope of the conference program.
Intersolar Europe 2011 takes place from June 8–10 at the New Munich Trade Fair Centre.
For more information about the Intersolar Europe Conference, please go to www.intersolar.de.
Partners of Intersolar Europe
Intersolar Europe is supported by the leading solar industry associations: the German Solar Industry Association (BSW-Solar), as an exclusive partner of Intersolar Europe, the German Solar Energy Society (DGS), the European Solar Thermal Industry Federation (ESTIF), the International Solar Energy Society (ISES) and the SEMI PV Group, with the support of the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA).
About Intersolar
With over 3,000 exhibitors and more than 100,000 visitors spanning three continents, Intersolar is the world’s leading exhibition series for the solar
industry. Intersolar Europe takes place annually at the New Munich Trade Fair Centre. Today, it is the world’s largest exhibition for the solar industry, and looks back on a history spanning almost twenty years. In 2010, 1,884 international exhibitors and more than 72,000 trade visitors were welcomed to Intersolar Europe. Intersolar Europe focuses on the areas of photovoltaics, PV production technology and solar thermal technology. Since its founding, it has become established as the most important industry platform for manufacturers, suppliers, wholesalers and service providers. The accompanying Intersolar Europe Conference consolidates the topics of the exhibition. In 2010, more than 150 speakers and around 2,000 attendees discussed current industry topics and shed light on the background behind technological, market and political developments.
In addition to Intersolar Europe, Intersolar North America in San Francisco was launched in 2008. This was followed by Intersolar India in 2009, which has been held in Mumbai since 2010. From 2011, Intersolar China in Peking will be added to the Intersolar portfolio. Intersolar Europe is organized by Solar Promotion GmbH, Pforzheim and Freiburg Wirtschaft Touristik und Messe GmbH & Co. KG. The exhibitions in North America and India are organized by the international subsidiaries Solar Promotion International GmbH, Pforzheim, and Freiburg Management und Marketing International GmbH (FMMI). Intersolar China is organized by Solar Promotion International GmbH and FMMI in cooperation with MMI Asia.