David Savastano, Editor06.23.09
Understandably, the topic of solar energy is drawing tremendous attention, as major emphasis is being placed by governments and industry alike on developing renewable energy. Solar energy, whether it is conventional solar panels or flexible thin-film photovoltaics, is receiving much interest.
“Basically, SEIA’s mission is to expand the U.S. solar energy market, to get more solar energy of all types – solar thermal, photovoltaic and utility-scale – installed in more sectors, including residential, commercial and utility,” said Monique Hanis, spokesperson for the SEIA.
The U.S. solar energy industry continues to expand, growing for the third consecutive year, and is poised for further expansion: Hanis noted that U.S. solar manufacturing capacity increased 65 percent in 2008.
While still a small segment of the overall solar marketplace, thin film flexible PV is a key area of interest, as its rapid production speed and lower cost will allow the technology to be utilized in a wide range of applications.
“Printed solar technology has the potential to dramatically cut costs and
create more options for installing solar generation,” Hanis said. “It’s a matter of commercializing the technology at reasonable cost.”
SEIA has the resources to make the dream of solar energy become more of a reality.
“With nearly 900 company members, we lobby the federal government for policies that stimulate more demand for solarand recognize solar for being a clean, renewable domestic source of energy,” Hanis said. “We also provide business-to-business networking and sales opportunities by hosting industry meetings and other industry support.”
To help promote the solar energy industry, SEIA debuted PV America, a full-scale technical conference and exhibition hall held in conjunction with the 34th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference. PV America was held June 8-10 at the Philadelphia Convention Center.
One glance at some of the keynote speakers gives a pretty clear look at the interest governments have in solar energy.Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, Delaware Gov. Jack Markell and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter all were on hand to describe their visions for a greener world and renewable energy, and the important place that solar energy has now and in the future.
Another important feature was Public Day, which allowed people to attend the conference for free. More than 1,800 people took part in Public Day, learning about how solar energy could benefit them.
Hanis said that PV America exceeded expectations.
“We are very pleased with the success of PV America in Philadelphia,” Hanis said. “We attracted 2,323 industry attendees, 140 exhibitors and another 1,800 visitors on Public Day.
“More importantly, we gained press coverage that put the spotlight on the Mid-Atlantic region, an important emerging solar energy market,” Hanis said. “Governors Ed Rendell and Jack Markell gave rousing remarks in support of solar and demonstrated their leadership in driving change on the state level. Former CIA director and solar advocate James Woolsey encouraged everyone to do their part and realize their responsibility to reduce our dependence on foreign fuel sources.”
Another area of great interest is the economy, whether the topic is securing financing or economic stimulus funding. The Financing Solar Roundtable, moderated by Jesse Pichel of Piper Jaffray & Co., examined these issues closely.
“Financing Solar Roundtable experts were somewhat optimistic that funding would flow soon, that work on large projects is being done behind the scenes and once the first deals get done, more will come,” Hanis noted. “Sessions presenting updates on economic stimulus bill funding and federal policies were standing-room only.”
Hanis noted that growth in 2009 depends on how quickly financing markets settle, easing the credit crunch, and on how quickly federal agencies issue implementation guidance for key economic stimulus provisions (Treasury Renewable Energy grants and loan guarantees).
It is clear that federal and state governments see the solar energy industry as a key partner in rebuilding the economy.
“We believe the solar energy industry can help fuel our economic recovery,” Hanis said. “Navigant Consulting estimated the solar industry will create 440,000 permanent jobs by 2016, and that does not take into account recent solar provisions in the economic stimulus bill, nor what may pass in the energy/climate bill now working its way through Congress.”
IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference
Opportunities and the newest technical developments of solar were very much in evidence during the 34th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, which was held June 7-12. There was a wide variety of topics encompassing the entire solar energy field, and thin-film organic photovoltaics were among the key topics of industry and academic presenters alike.
In particular, June 8 featured a session chaired by Rommel Noufi of SoloPower titled “Large-Scale Thin-Film PV Manufacturing.” The three presenters were Ken Zweibel of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, who discussed “The Role of Thin Film PV at the Multi-Gigawatt Level.” He was followed by Bulent Basol of SoloPower, who spoke about “Status of Electroplating Based CIGS Technology Development.” Kurt Barth of Abound Solar closed that session with “Abound Solar’s CdTe Module Manufacturing and Product Introduction.”
Other OPV sessions included June 11’s “Organic Photovoltaic Devices and Modules” and June 12’s “New Materials and Novel Concepts for Organic Solar Cells.”