SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 18, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Intersolar North America, the most attended solar industry exhibition and conference dedicated to the North American market, will highlight the key trends driving the North American solar market during its annual conference July 11-13 at the InterContinental Hotel in San Francisco. With a lineup of policymakers, industry executives and analysts, the conference program will provide valuable insight on topics ranging from emerging solar markets to new financing models to policy debates to technology advances during the first major industry event of the year 2016 in North America.
Intersolar is currently accepting speaking abstracts, with the deadline of Saturday, March 12. Abstracts can be submitted online.
The U.S. solar market will continue to grow at a record-breaking pace in 2016, and is expected to install 10 gigawatts (GW) of solar photovoltaic (PV) this year, according to GTM Research. While utility and commercial-scale installations are expected to make up the majority of new solar, the residential market will also experience strong growth throughout the year due in part to the continued popularity of third-party financing programs. By 2020, GTM Research expects the U.S. industry to install solar at a rate of 20 GW annually, due in part to declining costs and favorable policies, notably the extension of the investment tax credit (ITC).
The ITC's extension marked a major victory for the U.S. solar market, and demonstrated a commitment to developing a strong solar industry in the United States. Intersolar aided the efforts of its long-time partner the California Solar Energy Industries Association (CALSEIA), including a signature drive at last year's Intersolar North America event, to extend the ITC. CALSEIA and other industry organizations and advocates also successfully promoted the continuation of net metering in California, which was recently approved by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). These victories generated new debates at the state and local level over net-metering and rate-design reform, which will make 2016 a critical year for state and local solar policy.
As the first major solar industry event in North America in 2016, Intersolar helps connect solar executives from around the world and across the solar supply chain. Intersolar is working with a number of partners to develop the conference program, which will feature expert insight on a variety of topics related to continuing the industry's growth and development:
"With the extension of the ITC, the implementation of creative financing models, and affordable energy storage options, the United States is making a strong case to be the world's leading solar market in terms of capacity and innovation," said Dr. Florian Wessendorf, managing director of Solar Promotion International GmbH, and Daniel Strowitzki, CEO of FMMI International, the organizers of Intersolar North America. "We're working with our partners to develop a conference program that delivers attendees the information they need to know in order to navigate the changing marketplace and continue to grow the market. California has long lead the way for the U.S. solar industry, and we're excited to hear from the individuals and companies leading the market."
Intersolar organizers hope to build on the success of last year's program, with more than 200 speakers and 60 sessions and workshops.
New ees® North America Conference Focuses on Energy Storage Technologies, Policies
The U.S. is set to be the largest energy storage market worldwide, with California as the world's new hub of energy storage innovation and progressive policies, according to GTM Research. The annual U.S. solar-plus-storage market will reach 769 megawatts (MW) by 2020, with a $3.1 billion valuation. In that time, the California market will reach 422 MW, and account for 54 percent of the total U.S. market. The consumer market for behind-the-meter storage, will account for 50 percent of the total U.S. energy storage market by 2017.
Building on growing interest in the energy storage market, the co-located ees® North America conference will offer a two-day track of panel discussions and educational sessions that will cover topics such as large-scale electricity storage; behind-the-meter storage; battery safety; cost-effective battery storage; business models for commercial and utility-scale storage; and electric transportation. The ees® North America Conference runs July 11 to 12, and will take place at the InterContinental Hotel.
About Intersolar North America
With events spanning four continents, Intersolar is the world's leading exhibition series for the solar industry and its partners. It unites people and companies from around the world with the aim of increasing the share of solar power in our energy supply.
Since its establishment in 2008, Intersolar North America has become the most attended solar event and the premier networking platform for the North American solar industry. Co-located with SEMICON West, Intersolar North America takes place annually at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, in the heart of the United States' pioneering solar market. The event will expand to host a co-located energy storage-focused exhibition, ees® North America. ees® grew out of Intersolar North America's popular energy storage exhibition segment.
A total of 521 exhibitors and around 17,835 visitors participated in Intersolar North America in 2015. The conference and exhibition program featured 47 sessions with more than 200 speakers and 25 workshops.
Intersolar North America's exhibition and conference focus on photovoltaics, energy storage systems, smart renewable energy and solar heating & cooling technologies. Since being founded, Intersolar has become the most important industry platform to connect manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, service providers, policy makers, start-up founders, financiers, installers and partners in the global solar industry.
With 25 years of experience, Intersolar has the unique ability to bring together members of the solar industry from across the world's most influential markets and solar supply chain. Intersolar exhibitions and conferences are held in Munich, San Francisco, Mumbai, and São Paulo, and, starting in 2016, in Dubai. These global events are complemented by the Intersolar Summits, which take place in emerging and growing markets worldwide.
For more information on Intersolar North America, please visit: www.intersolar.us
Organizers: Intersolar North America is organized by Solar Promotion International GmbH, Pforzheim and Freiburg Management and Marketing International GmbH (FMMI).