Solar Promotion International GmbH held a press conference on Tuesday, July 15th, to precede the opening conference session that formally inaugurates Intersolar North America 2008. The event took place at 10:30am in the Union Square room of the Intercontinental Hotel.
The press conference provided an overview of the conference and exposition, reasons for expanding into North America, and a vision for the future of the show, as well as an overview of the compelling solar market data that gave cause for such an international event for North American solar interests.
Reporters had access to Intersolar North America conveners, including Markus Elsasser (Chief Executive Officer Solar Promotion International GmbH), Professor Eicke Weber (Chairman of the Conference Committee Intersolar North America / Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE), Dan Martin (Executive Vice President SEMI), and Dr. Dieter Salomon (Chairman of FMMI / Mayor of the City of Freiburg).
A question-and-answer period for the press followed a brief presentation.
Though in its first year, Intersolar North America has quickly grown to prominence in the solar industry. More than 12,000 people have registered to attend the event, which will feature 210 exhibitors on the third floor of Moscone West. Many additional solar-related companies will exhibit at SEMICON West, held simultaneously in the rest of the exposition center.
"Staging our exposition together with Intersolar adds great value to the semiconductor industry, which plays a large role in supporting solar technologies," said Dan Martin of SEMI. Meanwhile, more than 100 speakers will address conference attendees in 35 panels, symposia and workshops at the Intercontinental Hotel.
"We are incredibly pleased by the number of attendees and the conference lineup, which speaks to high levels of expertise across a very broad subject area," said the Fraunhofer Institute's Professor Eicke Weber, "and having taught at Berkeley for some 20 years, I am very pleased to see that Intersolar has found a home in the same place as my adopted home here in the Bay Area."
Show organizers intend to continue the momentum in years to come. "Next year, we expect to more than double our exhibition space, attendees and exhibitors," said Markus Elsasser, the Chief Executive of Solar Promotion International. Intersolar North America will make San Francisco its permanent home in the United States.
"We think it's a big advantage to be based in one location for the long-term, for ease of organization and for building a reputation as a significant solar event in a city of such international prominence," said Dr. Dieter Salomon, of FMMI and Mayor of Freiburg.
