Munich, March 3, 2009 – WIP Renewable Energies (WIP) reports that a new record number of research and industry papers has been submitted for the 24th EU PVSEC – European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference (September 21-25, 2009) and Exhibition (September 21-24, 2009) which will be held in Hamburg, Germany. This year’s 1,580 papers received mark another record high in the EU PVSEC’s history and represent a 20 % rise compared to the number of papers submitted for Valencia last year.
The global interest in the EU PVSEC is evident in the soaring number of 72 countries where the submitted papers originated: All European countries, North and South America, Asia and Africa, as well as Australia have contributed. This international exchange on such a high professional level authenticates the EU PVSEC’s status as the world–s leading PV solar event for a specialist audience.
Prof. Wim Sinke, Conference Chairman of the 24th EU PVSEC says: “It is absolutely impressing to see how the global photovoltaic R&D community responded to the Call for Papers. This number is showing that we are able to continue the trend of strong growth. I also find it really encouraging that solar energy stays high on the agenda, in spite of the very difficult times this world is going through. Photovoltaics is a key to our sustainable energy future and this Conference and Exhibition is at the heart of the global developments in this area; in science, technology, industry and applications. It is my great pleasure to chair this leading platform for PV solar energy.”
Dr. Winfried Hoffmann, President of the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA), states: “The EU PVSEC is for the global PV industry and scientific community a unique and by far the biggest yearly event in our calendar. Covering all aspects within the industrial value chain – from materials, production equipment, all component manufacturers down to BOS companies – the exhibition has brought together more than 700 of these players last year, making it the worldwide largest B2B (business to business) gathering, unrivalled to any other similar event. Also the conference is the by far largest scientific exchange in our quickly changing PV solar electricity world: And this is also absolutely necessary to boost the industry to its next product offering, bringing PV from grid parity stepwise to real cost competitiveness with all other electricity generating technologies. We from EPIA are proud to be an integral part of both events where we have developed the European PV Industry Forum as a well accepted platform within the conference, contributing to make the EU PVSEC a novel B2B2S (business to business to science) event. It is my great pleasure to welcoming you in Hamburg in September 2009!”
Over the next few weeks, the international Scientific Committee, comprising 135 experts in their respective fields, will evaluate the submitted papers. In mid-March, the Committee will make its final selections, on which the Conference Programme for the EU PVSEC will be based.