This year's exhibition and conference focused on the entire system of solar technologyfrom advances in solar module and cell technology to balance of system components to energy storageas well as the practical applications of new solar technology.
Solar industry leaders from around the world and across the solar value chain visited San Francisco to gain expert insight into the technology trends and market movements shaping the solar industry in North America, as well as to make the business connections essential to maintaining the U.S. solar market's impressive growth rate. Co-located with SEMICON West, more than 18,000 visitors from 76 countries attended free exhibition workshops and presentations, and viewed the latest products and services from 757 solar exhibitors. Exhibits occupied all three floors of Moscone West and Hall E of Moscone North.
Despite concerns over market consolidation and the changing incentive landscape, the mood of the show was optimistic, as the U.S. solar market is on pace to beat industry expectations for new installed capacity in 2012 and add more than 3.3 GW of new solar installations, according to EuPD Research. Globally, the amount of grid-connected photovoltaics is expected to increase from 70 GW in 2011 to 230 GW installed capacity by 2017, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). Building off of this year's momentum, approximately 2/3 of the exhibition space is already booked for Intersolar North America's 2013 exhibition and conference.
Intersolar North America Highlights Energy Storage and Grid Integration
Energy storage technologies play an important role in facilitating the integration of more solar into the grid, and were an important focus at this year's conference and exhibition. A packed room assembled to hear 10 storage experts discuss the latest technologies and what policies are needed to further commercialize storage during the Intersolar North America Conference at the Intercontinental Hotel.
On the show floor, the PV Energy World special exhibitorganized in conjunction with the California Energy Storage Alliance (CESA) and Fraunhofer Institute ISEsaw steady attendee traffic and full audiences for its presentations and panel discussions on energy storage technologies and grid integration.
Balance of Systems Exhibitors Show Off New Cost-Cutting Technologies
An increasing number of balance of system and solar component companies exhibited at this year's show, proving that balance of systems components are playing a crucial role in driving down system costs, improving efficiency, reliability and ROI. Intersolar North America featured several first-time exhibitors, including SMA America, LLC, which showed off its line of inverters, and Bonfiglioli Riduttori SpA, which highlighted its new RPS Endurance 500 kWp inverters. Several of the exhibitors demonstrated their products on the Innovation Exchange and Practical Point stages, two of four free exhibition stages that offered presentations throughout the duration of the show.
Intersolar AWARD Honors Solar Projects in North America
The first-ever Intersolar AWARD for solar projects in North America honored three landmark projects in the United States and Canada that utilize advanced technology, incorporate aesthetic and architectural concepts, and exemplify outstanding services and products. The winners for 2012 were honored in a special ceremony at the exhibition: Enerworks Inc.'s Oxford Gardens Solar Project, Vanir Energy, LLC's William G. White Jr., Family YMCA and ESA Renewables, LLC's Martins Creek Elementary School Solar PV Project. All nine Intersolar AWARD nominees offered presentations on their projects on the Innovation Exchange stage.
Global Solar Leaders Meet at Intersolar North America Conference
The Intersolar North America Conference took place around the corner from the Moscone Center at the Intercontinental Hotel in San Francisco. Over four days, approximately 220 internationally recognized speakers provided expert insight into a variety of topics facing the solar industry. In addition to the hot topics of energy storage and balance of systems innovations, 30 sessions covered everything from net metering to solar heating and cooling to future market prospects in Europe and Asia. Additionally, utility-scale solar was an important topic at this year's conference, and the conference offered panels on PV power plants, updates on the CSP and PV markets, and a forum featuring representatives from utilities on how best to boost the installed capacity of solar.
This year also first International Conference on Solar Heating and Cooling for Building and Industry in the United States organized by the IEA Solar Heating and Cooling Programme. The conference was part of a series of scientific and policy conferences focused on solar heating and cooling, and featured a global speaking lineup that attracted hundreds of attendees.
