Contact:
Horst Dufner
Phone: +49 (0) 7231 - 58 598 - 0
E-Mail: dufner@intersolar.de
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Freiburg (pts011/24.04.2006/10:00) - After last year's success, the 2nd PV Industry Forum, an expert conference held in English aimed at decision-makers from the international photovoltaics industry, will be taking place once again prior to Intersolar, Europe's largest solar technology fair (Freiburg, 22nd - 24th June 2006). The issues covered range from the latest developments in the production of solar cells to the growing international markets to rural electrification in Asia, Africa and South America.
Immense drive of the market for solar power generation
The photovoltaics industry generates Eur5.8m in sales globally. The average annual growth rate of 40% reflects the immense drive of the power generation market. International industry associations forecast that the global installed photovoltaic output will rise from currently 1,800 Megawatts to a total of 5,400 Megawatts by 2010.
Expansion of production capacities along the entire value-added chain
In 2005, the demand rose so much that a shortage of the raw material silicon, which is also used by the semiconductor industry, slowed growth down. "World-wide, there are massive investments being made into production capacities for silicon, solar cells and solar modules, creating the basis for the expansion of the photovoltaics market", says Gerhard Stryi-Hipp, managing director of the German Solar Industry Association (BSW). "As technological leaders, German companies stand a good chance of benefiting from emerging international markets."
Reduction of silicon demand for solar cell production
At the same time, the industry has developed a whole range of concepts and processes to reduce the demand for material in the production of solar cells and to save costs. There will be a separate session dedicated to expert reports from industry and research on innovative processes such as the "string ribbon" process and the latest developments in the production of thin film modules.
Great interest in the development of the US market
A second session focuses on the developments in the global market. The industry is particularly interested in the current market development in the United States. Even though there is no national subsidy programme, there are a number of regional programmes such as the one which was recently passed in California. The objective of the Californian programme is to expand the photovoltaic output to three Gigawatts by the year 2017. The US state intends to finance the construction of solar power stations with a total of $2.9b in subsidies.
Technical and organisational demands on rural electrificatio
The parallel session addresses an entirely different subject: rural electrification in Asia, Africa and South America. Even today, there are large regions which are not connected to the grid because this would not make economic sense. Alternatively, decentralized power supplies using photovoltaics are being set up. "The technical and organisational requirements for rural electrification projects are fundamentally different from the kind of photovoltaics projects which are being implemented in Germany", explains Rafael Wiese of the Club for Rural Electrification (C.L.E.). "At the PV Industry Forum, international solar experts will be reporting from their electrification projects and list the success factors."
Organisers and supporters
The PV Industry Forum is organised by Solar Promotion GmbH, Pforzheim and PSE GmbH, Freiburg. It is supported by the German Solar Industry Association (BSW) e.V., the German Energy Agency GmbH (dena) and the Club for Rural Electrification (C.L.E.). The organisers are expecting 120 participants and speakers from all over the world.
For further information on Intersolar 2006 visit http://www.intersolar.de
For further information and registration please go to http://www.pvindustry.de
Characters (incl. space): 3.355
The organizers of Intersolar 2006:
Intersolar is organized by Freiburg Wirtschaft Touristik und Messe GmbH & Co. KG and Solar Promotion GmbH, Pforzheim.
For more information please contact:
Solar Promotion GmbH
Mr. Horst Dufner
Tel: ++49 (0)7231 / 58 598-0
Fax: ++49 (0)7231 / 58 598-28
dufner@intersolar.de
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