Again in 2008, the PV Industry Forum offers PV experts from industry, research and development sectors a valuable opportunity for exchange. The PV Industry Forum will take place this June for the fourth year running - a large global meeting of solar PV manufacturers, service providers and suppliers in the field - again immediately prior to the Intersolar fair, but this year at a new venue in Munich.
Large-scale solar power plants and thin film technologies and products are the
main topics of the Forum, to be rounded out with a third focus on solar electrification of
rural areas in developing countries. Because of the increasing importance of photovoltaics in the energy market, as well as the growing numbers of participants,
the length of the Forum has been extended this year from its previous one to two days. The Forum, which is designed for experts and decision-makers in the photovoltaics industry, will take place on June 10th and 11th, 2008, in the International Congress Center Munich (ICM).
European photovoltaics experts to meet before the Intersolar
For the fourth year running, the PV Industry Forum will take place immediately
prior to the Intersolar. The program includes outstanding speakers, and offers a valuable
platform for decision-makers in the photovoltaics industry to exchange and access
cutting-edge information. This year, more than 500 international participants are expected at the Forum, which will be conducted in English; last year over 300 took advantage of the Forum’s excellent opportunity for exchange of information and know-how.
Top program at the 4th PV Industry Forum The PV Industry Forum offers participants a total of nine events, panel discussions and discussion groups prior to the Intersolar. The main topics in 2008 will be developments in thin film technology, large-scale solar power plants and applications in rural electrification.
Following a look at the German photovoltaics market on the first day will be sessions on
various topics, including:
• TOP 10 in the international photovoltaics market, with a focus on the Mediterranean
region, the USA and Southeast Asia
• Manufacture and production technology in thin film photovoltaics
• Newest developments in concentrating photovoltaics systems
• Future prospects of photovoltaics; development of technology Solutions for Rural Areas
A special focus will be placed this year on the topic of rural electrification - providing electricity to difficult-to-reach rural areas in developing countries. These areas often do not have the necessary infrastructure for a reliable electricity supply. And as long
as a village has no electricity, not only is the quality of life in private households
compromised, the development of an economic infrastructure is also impossible.
Among others, two projects whose goal is a sustainable commercial dissemination
of solar systems in rural areas will be presented at the PV Industry Forum:
The “The Sun Shines for ALL“ project, developed by the Institute for the
Development of natural Energy and Sustainability (IDEAAS), leases uncomplicated solar energy systems to households in Brazil. The ‘Solar Home Kit’ was developed based on an eight month study in rural areas of Brazil, and provides highly effective, low-risk access to renewable energy.
The “Lighting Homes” initiative, developed by Dr. Harish Hande in India, combines customer-friendly lighting systems, sustainable micro-finance concepts and a focus on the market needs of people living under the poverty level to make electricity available.
The project, for which Dr. H. Hande received the Social Entrepreneur Award in 2007, uses customized micro-financing to create a long-term solution for providing offgrid areas with electricity.
Both projects, as well as other solutions for rural electrification in Africa and Asia, will be
presented on June 11th beginning at 1:30 pm at the PV Industry Forum.
For further information on the 4th PV Industry Forum, please contact:
Solar Promotion GmbH
Horst Dufner
Postfach 100 170
75101 Pforzheim
Germany
Phone: +49-(0)7231-58598-0
Fax: +49-(0)7231-58598-28
www.pvindustry.de
