PV Solar Electricity: One among the New Millenium Industries

Speaker: Dr. Winfried Hoffmann, Chairman of the Board of RWE SCHOTT Solar GmbH, Member of the Board of the German Solar Industry Association (BSi) and the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA)

Key Note Address: Professor Dr. Joachim Luther, Director of Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems

With well over 30 years of proven system performance and a global growth of more than 30 % p.a. over the past years, PV solar electricity has already demonstrated its readiness for providing clean and reliable electricity supply for a variety of applications today and its potential for an important contribution within the portfolio of future renewable energy sources to meet the growing demand of global electricity. Whereas PV is already competitive for remote industrial, consumer and off-grid rural applications, the fast growing area of grid connected systems has started an international race as to which region – Asia, Europe and USA – will win the worldwide competition for industrial leadership in demonstrating best practice in industry political support actions.

During the event, examples were given with particular emphasis on a European wide feed-in law similar to the well demonstrated renewable feed-in law (EEG) in Germany. The importance of research and development delivered from institutes to the industry for staying competitive in the worldwide race will be addressed by Professor Luther.