EXHIBITIONREPORT
I
ntersolar has become the world’s largest trade fair for solar technology and has rightly taken a prominent place on the industry calendar. In 2009 there was a 31% increase in exhibitor numbers and growth of 37% in exhibition space providing the clearest evidence of industry growth across Europe and the world.
The organisers are hoping for a repeat in percentage growth but rightly have no real idea of the impact on the industry the reduction ion subsidies as well as fiscal crisis will have on the event. With 50% of 2009 exhibitors coming from abroad, the growth is further afield than Europe.
With a total of 1,414 exhibitors from 40 countries, more companies than ever before were represented at Intersolar 2009. For 2010, the organisers have stated that an increase to more than 1,700 exhibitors is expected. The exhibition area will expand from 104,000 sqm (2009) to 130,000 sqm to accommodate the expected increase in participants.
Material focus
The market for machines, raw materials and services in photovoltaics production is growing extremely rapidly. At Intersolar Europe, an entire exhibition hall will be reserved for this area of interest. The exhibition areas will be broken into the following areas.
PV Manufacturing Equipment - Wafers, Cells, Modules, Thin Film
Integration and Automation PV Manufacturing Consumables (paste, wires...) PV Manufacturing Gases and Liquid Chemicals
The organisers hope the breakdown in services will assist visitors in increasing the ease and visibility of the exhibitors they would like to see.
Intersolar has become one of the key industry events and Solar Magazine will be present for the exhibition and will be hoping to catch up with as many of the companies that have worked with us over the last few years.
Of course the opinion of the media and exhibition organisers does not really count as much as the companies and individuals who work to make this industry grow as rapidly as it currently is. Solar Magazine therefore asked two company executives their opinions of the exhibition and trade show and the possible effects they may see with the reduction in subsidies in Germany.
Sputnik Engineering
We asked Dr. Hans-Thomas Fritzsche, Managing Director of Sputnik Engineering GmbH some questions related to the trade show.
How do you view the market in light of the threat of further subsidy cuts in Germany?
The reduction in the feed-in tariffs poses a challenge. We know this, if not to this extent. I think that it is indisputable, for the majority of companies active within the PV sector, that the current feed-in tariffs lead to unnecessarily high margins or profits, and thereby endanger the reputation of photovoltaics.
The possible extent of the reduction is certainly worthy of discussion. The problem that faces all participants in the industry is the inimitably unprofessional way in which the policy-makers act in terms of any modification to the EEG.
Starting with a drastic reduction for roof systems from the 1st April 2010, through to deferral to the 1st July, right to the complete loss of subsidies for open-field systems on arable land. It is hardly surprising that the entire industry is in turmoil regarding a lack of planning certainty.
In the case of large open land projects this uncertainty is already leading to banks withdrawing their financing pledges because the project would be entirely worthless in the event of delayed completion. And the matter of a global shortage of electronic components is an added ingredient in
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www.solar-pv-management.com Issue III 2010
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