The anniversary of the most important innovation award for the solar industry is marked by a yet stronger international character and the debut of "Solar Pro-jects" awards.

Munich, February 20, 2012 – From February 1 to March 30, Intersolar exhibitors can apply for the 2012 Intersolar AWARD. The winners are international companies who have proved their innovative strength with outstanding services and products. The 5th anniversary will see the jury once again award up to three winners from the categories of “Photovoltaics”, “Solar Thermal Technology” and “PV Production Technology”. For the first time, exhibitors from Intersolar China are invited to put forward their applications alongside exhibitors from Intersolar Europe in Munich, Intersolar North America in San Francisco and Intersolar India in Mumbai. Awards will be presented for the specified ar-eas during a special ceremony at Intersolar Europe on June 13, 2012 from 4:30pm. Celebrating its anniversary, the Intersolar AWARD boasts a new addition to its portfolio with the introduction of a new prize category, entitled “Solar Projects”, from 2012. “So-lar Projects in North America” is the first prize category in this field. Projects in the following fields are eligible for submission: “Solar Building”, “Industrial and Commercial Use”, as well as “Utility Scale Projects”. Similarly, the Intersolar AWARD is also being presented in this category as part of Intersolar North America in San Francisco on July 10, 2012.

A total of 301 innovations from 25 countries have been entered for the Intersolar AWARD since it was established. Therefore, not only does the number of entries soar year on year, but so too does the quality of the applications – for the organizers, this underlines the high regard for this special industry award, which shines a light on the winners and their products for the entire global solar industry to admire.

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The future of solar energy supply at Intersolar Europe
In 2011, the rise in newly-installed photovoltaic capacity reached a new high, both in Germany and the world over. The impressive applications for the Intersolar AWARD shed light how the industry tackles the challenges presented by this increase.

Reducing the cost of modules and systems remains one of the most important areas of development in the industry to successfully install more photovoltaic systems. Last year’s applications included cost-effective installation systems as well as cell and module innovations. In this respect, Intersolar exhibitors relied on new materials, such as in the films used for the backsheets of PV modules, as well as new production methods, which increase the service life and long-term efficiency of solar cells. Companies have also been successful in their commitment to other important development areas, including yield security, plant monitoring, and intelligent inverters for optimized grid feed-in. Applications based on attractive architectural solutions for building integration have also seen a welcomed increase.

Companies from the Solar Thermal Technology category also unveil impressive and innovative developments at Intersolar Europe. Entries based on new collector systems show the solar thermal industry tapping into new fields of application, in addition to the traditional areas of domestic water heating and back-up heating. These new systems include solar cooling, process heat generation, combined heat and power, and power generation on small and medium scales. Cost reduction also plays a key role here. Impressive applications from previous years have shown how costs can be effectively cut with new production methods or by using aluminum as the absorber material. The industry has delved into new areas of application over the last few years, particularly with regard to system integration of various heat sources and the use of solar heat for industrial and municipal applications.

These are just a handful of examples of pioneering products and innovations, which represent the innovative strength of the solar industry and which have shaped the Intersolar AWARD over recent years. And 2012 is no different – exhibitors and visitors can once again look forward to new trends and solutions from all over the world.

To the podium
The Intersolar AWARD 2012 is being presented in the following categories: “Photovoltaics”, “Solar Thermal Technology”, “PV Production Technology”, and, for the first time, “Solar Projects”. “Solar Projects in North America” is the first prize category in the “Solar Projects” field.

Participants from “Photovoltaics”, “Solar Thermal Technology” and “PV Production Technology” categories may enter products, services, and solutions which are to debut at Intersolar Europe or Intersolar North America 2012, or which were exhibited at Intersolar India or Intersolar China in 2011. Refinements of products and solutions previously presented at the exhibition are also permitted. Submissions must have been trialed or must already be in industrial use.

Projects falling under “Solar Building”, “Industrial and Commercial Use”, or “Utility Scale Projects” may be submitted for the “Solar Projects” category. In order to be eligible, projects must be fully completed at the time of submission to the Intersolar AWARD and must not be more than two years old. Exhibitors at Intersolar Europe 2012, Intersolar North America 2012, Intersolar China 2011 and Intersolar India 2011 are eligible to participate.

This year’s winners will be decided as part of a two-part selection process after the application deadline. In the first phase, an expert panel selects up to ten nominees in each category. An expert jury, made up of specialists from science, industry, research and trade media, then selects up to three winners from each category. The winner of the “PV Production Technology” category will be chosen by the SEMI PV Group, the global industry association of equipment and material manufacturers specializing in photovoltaics.

The Intersolar AWARD for “Photovoltaics”, “Solar Thermal Technology” and the category “PV Production Technology” will be presented during an official ceremony on June 13, 2012 at 4:30pm at Intersolar Europe in Munich. The winner of the “Solar Projects in North America” category will be announced on July 12, 2012 at Intersolar North America in San Francisco.

Companies wanting to be considered for the Intersolar AWARD can register on the Intersolar Europe website under “Exhibitor Service”, “Marketing + Promotion”, then menu item “Intersolar AWARD”. They will then obtain access details to download application documents. All applications must be submitted by March 30, 2012.

Intersolar Europe 2012 takes place from June 13–15 at the Munich Trade Fair Centre.

Further information on Intersolar Europe can be found at 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), the SEMI PV Group and VDMA-PV, the Platform for Photovoltaic Equipment within the German Engineering Federation, with the support of the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA).

About Intersolar
With over 3,500 exhibitors and 120,000+ visitors spanning three continents, Intersolar is the world’s leading exhibition series for the solar industry. Intersolar Europe takes place annually at the Munich Trade Fair Centre. Today, it is the world’s largest exhibition for the solar industry, and looks back on a history spanning twenty years.

In 2011, 2,280 international exhibitors and around 77,000 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 2011, more than 400 speakers and around 2,500 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. Intersolar China in Beijing was added to the Intersolar portfolio in 2011.

Intersolar Europe is organized by Solar Promotion GmbH, Pforzheim, and Freiburg Wirtschaft Touristik und Messe GmbH & Co. KG. ‘

Contact:
Solar Promotion GmbH | P.O. Box 100 170 | 75101 Pforzheim, Germany
Horst Dufner | Tel.: +49 7231 58598-0 | Fax: +49 7231 58598-28 | info@intersolar.de

Press contact:
fischerAppelt, relations GmbH | Infanteriestraße 11a | 80797 Munich, Germany
Robert Schwarzenböck | Tel. +49 89 747466-23 | Fax +49 89 747466-66 | rs@fischerAppelt.de