The Solar Future (DE)
Germany
May 26, 2009 - May 26, 2009
Overview
Venue: Hotel Vierjahreszeiten Kempinski
Contact Phone: +31-10-2809198
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World’s largest solar manufacturers speak at ‘The Solar Future’ conference
Forecast for solar industry in coming years revealed, rare opportunity for high-level networking
Rotterdam, Netherlands - Munich, Germany -- SolarPlaza, a leading consultancy on the global solar industry, is pleased to announce “The Solar Future” Conference to be held in Munich, Germany on May 26. For a single day, the world’s top minds will come together to discuss the future of the fastest-growing renewable energy at a critical time for the industry. Speakers will include such experts and CEO's as Bruce Sohn, President of First Solar, Dr. Shi, CEO Suntech Power, Anton Milner, CEO Q-cells, renowned analyst Travis Bradford of the Prometheus Institute; Stephen O’Rourke, analyst with Deutsche Bank Securities on Wall Street; and David Rubin, chairman of the board of directors of the Solar Electric Power Association.
Conference in Munich, Germany will include chief executives of world’s largest solar manufacturers, top investors and analysts
Solar energy, at the cusp of a historic turning point, is headed toward grid parity in the coming years. And, as demand surges worldwide, major industry leaders are preparing for unprecedented implementation in solar technologies across the globe.
“Most people think that solar energy is something for the future, when prices have come down and cell efficiencies have further improved,” says Edwin Koot , CEO of organizer SolarPlaza . “Well, this is your wake up call, because this future is closer than you could imagine.” With huge strides worldwide in such developments as electric-powered vehicles, the implications for the solar industry are greater than ever. From Spain to Italy to California, solar energy is rapidly becoming competitive in pricing with conventional fossil fuel sources, which marks a new phase for the industry called grid parity.
In 2008, demand for solar energy exploded more than 100 percent. While present economic conditions has challenged the global marketplace, solar stands to win, reaching grid parity at a faster pace. Revenues in the solar industry is expected to top $50 billion in 2012. “This grid parity is the Holy Grail for the solar industry and only the beginning of an unprecedented growth path,” Koot says. “At that time, market potential will become unlimited.”
Programme Strategy conference on supply, demand, technology and financial trends with experts and CEO’s of the world’s leading PV companies
Session I: The Solar Industry Future: crisis or new dawn?
The Solar Guru:
Will the spectacular growth in the PV industry continue over the years ahead?
Supply trends in thin-film versus crystalline technology for 2009-2012
Travis Bradford; President, Prometheus Institute, Professor RE at Chicago University
The Banker:
How does Wall Street view future growth in the solar PV industry?
What development stages are to be expected in a young industry as it grows?
Stephen O’Rourke; Analyst, Deutsche Bank Securities, New York
The Enabler:
Will Applied Materials GigaWatt customers blow the competition away with the lowest cost PV modules?
How will low cost amorphous thin-film PV modules compete with crystalline modules?
Winfried Hoffman; CTO, Solar Business Group Applied Materials
Session II: The Solar Market Future: unlimited growth potential?
The Traveler:
Trends and outlook for the world’s major PV markets
Short-term and long-term global PV market forecast. Will Germany still be the world’s largest PV market by 2012? Where are grid-parity markets? What might happen there?
Edwin Koot; CEO, SolarPlaza
The Energy Utilities:
Large scale PV power plants will spur the US PV market
California’s PG&E leads the way with a new 500 MWp program. What other US utilities are following and why are PV plants competitive?
David Rubin; Chairman Board of Directors Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA)
The Contractor:
How far away is grid-parity in the Europe’s largest markets?
BOS cost will become more important that the cost of PV modules. Is thin-film PV the answer and the way to go for large PV projects in Europe?
Manfred Bächler; CTO, Phoenix Solar AG
Session III: The Crystalline Solar Future: countdown to grid parity
The Innovator:
The Q-Cells roadmap: how to reach grid parity before 2012
Will Q-Cells bet on crystalline or thin-film technology?
Anton Milner; CEO, Q-Cells
The Chinese powerhouse:
Can China’s Suntech Power drive down the cost of solar energy more quickly than others?
Will the world’s biggest crystalline cell and module manufacturer’s success story continue and remain the global leader in module production?
Dr. Zhengrong Shi; CEO, Suntech Power
The vertically integrated:
Can vertically integrated crystalline module manufacturer Trina Solar offer the cheapest PV modules? What is the outlook for production cost and module prices in the next three years? What will become the key grid-parity markets?
Arturo Herrero; Vice-president of Sales and Marketing, Trina Solar
Session IV: The Solar Future: or is grid parity already reality?
The System Integrator:
Distributed solar energy generation is already competitive with the grid in California
In 2010, PV will be by far the most cost effective way of generating electricity.
Will the residential PV market explode in 2010?
Barry Cinnamon; CEO and founder of Akeena Solar
The Crystalline Challenger:
The crystalline grid-parity factory
Available today: the integrated turnkey solution for production of polysilicon to crystalline solar modules at grid-parity cost level
Dr. Peter Fath; CTO, Centrotherm
The Thin-film Challenger:
The feasible objective for next year: module selling price at $1/Wp
QS Solar is a new amorphous silicon manufacturer. The company will challenge the industry and market with a record low module price.
Lynn Sha; General Manager, QS Solar
The thin-film leader:
The module roadmap to grid parity before 2012 with solar module production costs below $0.70/Wp
The world’s leading thin-film manufacturer’s strategy. Will First Solar be able to open up new markets that no longer need financial incentives from governments?
Bruce Sohn; President & Board Member, First Solar, Inc.
