The energy supply of the future and an anniversary: The Intersolar Europe accompanying program

Intersolar Europe is once again set to serve as the most important industry meeting point for the solar industry and its partners. Manufacturers, distributors, service providers and suppliers will gather in Munich to discuss the latest trends, technologies and products. The exhibition also boasts an extensive accompanying program: Among this year’s highlights are the special exhibit Smart Renewable Energy, a French-German networking event and the Intersolar AWARD, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary. In addition, the Intersolar Europe Conference, led for the first time by new chairman Dr. Pierre-Jean Alet, will address a broad range of topics on May 30 and 31.

Solar power is hot. In January, the German Solar Association announced that another milestone had been reached with 300 gigawatt peak (GWp) of PV capacity installed worldwide. According to the association, solar power systems with a nominal capacity of 75 gigawatts were added in 2016 – approximately 30 percent more than in 2015. 2016 also brought good news from Germany: According to data from the Germany Federal Network Agency, around 51,900 new solar power plants with a capacity of approximately 1.52 GWp were installed last year, as compared to 1.46 GWp the previous year. Experts believe that more than 2 GWp could be deployed this year – an outstanding market environment for Intersolar Europe 2017.

A DECADE OF THE INTERSOLAR AWARD: AN ANNIVERSARY AND A REFLECTION OF AN ENTIRE INDUSTRY

2017 sees the Intersolar AWARD celebrate a milestone birthday. For the tenth year in a row, the organizers are collaborating with international industry associations to honor pioneering ideas and new approaches with the most important and globally recognized award in the industry. A look back at previous award topics is a good indicator of how the industry has evolved over the past decade. While the first few years focused on boosting efficiency and quality, attention later turned to component optimization. In 2016, the industry increasingly addressed digitalization, a trend that has continued into 2017. For the first time, the Outstanding Solar Projects category is being expanded to include the new topic Smart Renewable Projects. The ceremony begins on May 31, 2017 at 5:00pm at the Innovation and Application Forum.

This year also marks the premiere of the Utilities Within the Energy Transition Award. This award honors the most innovative utilities on the basis of a quality model developed by the Bonn-based market and economic research company EuPD Research to objectively assess utility company offerings. The award will be presented on June 1, 2017.

NETWORKING EVENT BRINGS THE FRENCH-GERMAN SOLAR INDUSTRY TOGETHER

France is also driving the energy transition forward with an ambitious goal: By 2030 renewable energies are to make up nearly a third of the country’s overall energy supply. This share is currently around 20 percent. Reason enough for the German solar industry to strengthen this partnership. With three strong partners, Intersolar Europe is doing its part to foster collaboration: The French-German Office for Energy Transition (DFBEW), Business France and the National Solar Energy Institute (INES) will introduce themselves at several program events within the exhibition. Interested visitors are particularly encouraged to attend the international presentation and networking event on June 1, where they will have the opportunity to exchange knowledge and ideas about topics such as photovoltaics, innovative energy storage systems and smart grids with German and French companies at the Smart Renewable Energy Forum.

THE SMART RENEWABLE ENERGY SPECIAL EXHIBIT LOOKS TO THE FUTURE

The infrastructure platform Energy Lab 2.0 is investigating how new approaches and technologies can be integrated into the energy system of the future. The structural initiative involves a collaboration between the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and project partners from the Helmholtz Association: the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ). The partners will present their project at the Smart Renewable Energy special exhibit (hall B2, booth B2.140) and describe their efforts to explore the complex interplay between components of future energy systems. On June 1, this topic will also feature at the Smart Renewable Energy Forum (hall B2, booth B2.313), which will address concepts and technologies for a smart, decentralized energy landscape on each day of the exhibition.

FROM SMART POWER GRIDS TO LARGE-SCALE POWER STATIONS: THE INTERSOLAR EUROPE CONFERENCE

A broad range of topics is on the agenda at this year’s Intersolar Europe Conference. The conference traditionally accompanies the exhibition, and along with the hot topic of smart renewable energy, it will take a close look at large-scale PV power plants in 2017. The latter has the industry facing new challenges in operation and maintenance (O&M) and the development of efficient technologies. In addition, the conference will explore financing models for the PV industry and the effects of falling prices for PV components. For the first time, Dr. Pierre-Jean Alet is presiding over the conference as chairman.

EXPERT-LED EXHIBITION TOURS FOR ARCHITECTS, PLANNERS AND INSTALLERS

The B2B specialist magazine photovoltaik and the English-language website pv Europe are offering free tours of Intersolar and the parallel ees Europe, the continent’s largest exhibition for batteries and energy storage systems. The guided tours on a range of topics are aimed at architects, planners and installers. During the approximately two-hour tours, which are conducted in German and English, expert guides will share information on technical innovations in electricity storage devices for domestic use, commerce and industry, intelligent power electronics, smart solar modules and installation systems. Those interested can register at www.pveurope.eu/GuidedTours.

Intersolar Europe 2017 will take place from May 31–June 2 at Messe München.

Further information on Intersolar Europe can be found at www.intersolar.de/en

Partners of Intersolar Europe
Intersolar Europe is supported by the leading solar industry associations: the German Solar Association (BSWSolar) as an exclusive partner, the German Solar Energy Society (DGS), the European Solar Thermal Industry Federation (ESTIF), the International Solar Energy Society (ISES), and the platform for photovoltaic production equipment within the German Engineering Association (VDMA-PV). With the support of SolarPower Europe.

About Intersolar
With events spanning four continents, Intersolar is the world’s leading exhibition series for the solar industry and its partners. It unites people and companies from around the world with the aim of increasing the share of solar power in our energy supply.

Intersolar Europe takes place annually at the Messe München exhibition center in Munich, Germany and focuses on the areas of photovoltaics, energy storage and renewable heating, as well as on products and solutions for smart renewable energy. The accompanying Intersolar Europe Conference consolidates selected exhibition topics and showcases international markets, financing and pioneering technologies. Since being founded, Intersolar Europe has become the most important industry platform for manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, service providers and partners in the global solar industry.

With more than 25 years of experience, Intersolar has the unique ability to bring together members of the solar industry from across the world’s most influential markets. Intersolar exhibitions and conferences are held in Munich, San Francisco, Mumbai, São Paulo and Dubai. These global events are complemented by the Intersolar Summits, which take place in emerging and growing solar markets worldwide.

In 2017, ees Europe, Europe’s Largest Exhibition for Batteries and Energy Storage Systems, will take place in parallel to Intersolar Europe for the fourth time. Together with the accompanying ees Europe Conference, the exhibition covers the entire value chain of innovative battery and energy storage technologies.

For more information on Intersolar Europe, please visit: www.intersolar.de/en

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