Intersolar-09 Illuminates The Growing American Photovoltaic Market

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The USA is the fourth largest solar energy market worldwide – and thanks to improved government assistance the USA is currently on the right track for strengthening this position. In the all new "Intersolar U.S. Market Pavilion", the future developments, perspectives and technological trends on the American photovoltaic and solar thermal market are the focus of Intersolar, the world's largest trade fair for solar technology taking place from 27 – 29 May. With the new "Intersolar U.S. Market Pavilion" and the conference "Solar Gigawatts for North America" on 28 May 2009, the trade fair is building an important thematic bridge over the Atlantic this year.

"Yes, we can!" This famous election slogan by the new American president Barack Obama is also the key note of his environmental policy: The target is to reduce dependence on oil as well as emissions of climate-damaging exhaust gases through the growth of renewable energy such as solar energy. President Obama has pledged 150 million dollars for an environmental energy plan over the next ten years. The PV Group, an initiative of the International Semiconductor Association SEMI, has already identified rapid market growth – and predicts that the American solar market will continue to grow significantly over the next few years. A huge market is looming in the USA, due, especially, to the amount of land area available for the expansion of photovoltaic plants. The USA's dynamic industry development in the areas of photovoltaics and solarthermics is the subject of the "Intersolar U.S. Market Pavilion" at the Intersolar international trade fair for solar technology.

The American photovoltaic market is booming – The government economic stimulus package has strengthened the manufacturers' position
The PV Group reckons that the USA along with Germany and Japan will be one of the world's largest photovoltaic markets in the foreseeable future. "We are very optimistic about the growth potential in the U.S.", says Dan Martin, Executive Vice President for PV Group. "Conditions have never been more encouraging to strengthen the entire photovoltaic manufacturing supply chain and enable the U.S. market to play a significant role in solar energy production."

Alone this year, the association has predicted new installations with a total output of one gigawatt – in 2010, the number is to increase to two gigawatts. The reason for this is the announcement by President Barack Obama to double the percentage of renewable energy as well as the US economic stimulus package which offers sizable financial incentives for investments in production plants: Established and innovative photovoltaic manufacturers can profit in the form of government aid or loans. The new reform in the "Investment Tax Credits" (ITC) creates an eight-year planning reliability for photovoltaics. Both private and commercial investors can receive a tax credit of 30 percent of the system costs.

Photovoltaic plants on the scale of power plants
In addition to the government support, the geographical features make the boom of photovoltaics in the USA possible: Around half of the land shows solar radiation values of more than 1, 300 kWh per square yard and year – this especially benefits the construction of photovoltaic plants on the scale of power plants.

High growth rates and the enormous market potential of the US American solar thermal market attract foreign suppliers
The solar thermal market is also booming with the new administration: In 2008, market growth was at over 50 percent. The growth potential of the American market is attracting European solar thermal suppliers. Although in 2007, three-quarters of the collectors installed in the USA were still being produced by domestic firms, imports are gaining in importance. The number of imported flat plate collectors and evacuated tube collectors has increased more than tenfold within two years – this was the result of an investigation by the Energy Information Administration (EIA), the Official Energy Statistics from the US Government.

Favourable conditions for solar thermal world-scale plants
The "American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan" adopted in mid February, also known as the Stimulus Package, makes it possible for private investors to take a tax credit of 30 percent on amounts invested for a solar thermal plant. The US American umbrella organisation for renewable energy, the "American Council on Renewable Energy" (ACORE) thus reckons with a significant increase in new installations of solar thermal plants. The American energy firm, Vanir Energy, is planning the construction of world-scale plants in the next few months: "We are going to invest 14 million US dollars in solar thermal plants", the company announced from North Carolina. European importers will also profit from the favourable conditions.

Information on the American solar market first-hand
The contact point for exhibitors, visitors and representatives of the trade press, is the "Intersolar U.S. Market Pavilion" at the Intersolar 2009. The 140 m2 large exhibition area in Hall B3 offers the ideal platform for all those interested in the American solar market and who want first-hand information. The main exhibitor is Solar Promotion International, a subsidiary of the Solar Promotion GmbH in Pforzheim. This company is hosting the parallel trade fair Intersolar North America in San Francisco from 14 to 16 July together with the Freiburg Management and Marketing International GmbH (FMMI). Contact representatives from American institutions, publishers and consulting firms will be available to provide information to visitors. The official partners of the "Intersolar U.S. Market Pavilion" are the American Solar Energy Society, the U.S. Department of Commerce, Greentech Media, Prometheus Institute for Sustainable Development as well as Zackin Publications.

Another thematic highlight is the conference "Solar Gigawatts for North America" on 28 May 2009 in the ICM Munich. The conference in the Intersolar congress programme has developed in the meantime into the most important symposium for the transatlantic expansion of business relationships. The key issues cover the areas of Marketing, Sales, Project Financing, Planning and Installation. In this way the conference is clearly oriented to solar experts in the non-technical area and the management of internationally-operating companies.

In addition, this year, the trade fair program will actively promote the establishment of contacts and the exchange of ideas between American and German experts.

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