Past Solarplaza events
On this page you can find an overview of the tours and conferences that were organized by SolarPlaza in the last three years.
In the last 5 years, SolarPlaza organized more than 13 international PV trade missions to: China, Spain, Italy, Greece, California, Taiwan and India. We organized solar PV conferences in all of the forenamed countries and the PV expert conferences The Thin-film Future, The Solar Future and its yearly Global Demand Conference.
The Solar Future III | 21 April 2011 | Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Summary
After two very successful editions, Solarplaza, for the third time, organized their Dutch solar PV conference focusing on the status of solar energy in the current economical, political and practical climate and the opportunities that will arise in the near future. The conference maintained its formula, including plenary sessions, several side-sessions and general discussion.
Speakers
Jigar Shah (CEO, Carbon War Room), Mario Zen (VP Business Development, LDK Solar), Edwin Koot (CEO, Solarplaza), Wim Sinke (Senior Stafmederker, ECN), Rob van Rees (Directeur, Greenchoice), Marjan Minnesma (Directeur, Urgenda), Bouwe de Boer (Gemeente Leeuwarden), Sible Schöne (HIER), Peter van Vliet (De Zonvogel), Roebyem Anders (Directeur, Groene Golf), Charlotte Bosschaert (Directeur, Raspberry Solar), Frank Siblesz (Associate Director, DIF RE), Mark Roesink (Investment Manager, ASN Bank), Jobs Swens (J-OB), Tristan Simon (ARCADIS), Tonnie Tekelenburg (Gemeente Lochem)
The Solar Future: Belgium | 23 March 2011 | Brussels, Belgium
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Summary
The Solar Future: Belgium focused on the business opportunities for photovoltaic solar energy (PV) in Belgium. Belgian and international experts discuseds the current and expected rules and regulations, the international developments and cost trends in the fast growing PV industry, the practical experiences, the expectations and chances for further development of the Belgian market. Questions that were discussed are: what happens to the rules and regulations, the subsidies and what will be the most attractive market segments the upcoming years, the opportunities for attractive investments and opportunities for companies and organizations? What is more attractive: to invest yourself or rent out your roof?
Speakers
Winfried Hoffmann (VP, EPIA); Luca Piffer (Countray Manager Italy, LDK Solar); Jérôme Crotteux (PV Team Manager, 3E); Sam Wilkinson (PV Analyst; IMS Research); Jeroen de Coninck (Lawyer, Baker & acKenzie); Alext Polfliet (CEO, Zero Emission Solutions); Bruno Vanderschueren (Founder, Lampiris); Coran Lenaerts (Relationship Manager, KBC Merchant Banking); Wim Samyn (Managing Partner, Linea Trovata); Patrick Decuyper (Founder, Enfinity); Filip Audenaert (Investment Director, DG Infra +); Karel de Brabandere (Project Manager, Vito); Karolien Verhagen (VREG)
The Solar Future: India | 24-25 January 2011 | New Delhi, India
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Summary
On January 24 and 25, Solarplaza organized the Indian edition of its Solar Future conferences. The Solar Future: India featured many international and local expert speakers from the solar industry, financial institutions, industry associations and the government. The combination of their knowledge and the audience's expertise and participation provided a platform where the opportunities and challenges in the Indian market were discussed.
Speakers
Jigar Shah (CEO, Carbon War Room); Mario Zen (VP Business Development, LDK Solar); Damian Miller (CEO, Orb Energy); Vishal Shah (Director & Senior Analyst, Barclays Capital); Edwin Koot (CEO, Solarplaza); Bruce Huber (Managing Director, Jefferies); Ravinder Raina (President, Astonfield); Gautham Nalamada (CEO, Photon Energy); Vijay Anand Bhagavatula (Deputy General Manager, Moser Baer); Debashish Majumdar (Chariman, IREDA); S.K. Shukla (Director, CREDA); Rahul Sankhe (Head Business Development, SunEdison); Srinivas Nagabhirava (Managing Director Asia, AES Solar Energy); Eduardo Forniés (Engineer, ILB-Helios); Ramana Reddy (Project Manager, KfW); Jan van der Henst (CEO, Invictus); Meka Seshagiri (Head of Sales India, Oerlikon Solar India); Inderpreet Wadhwa (CEO, Azure Power); Gangadhara Rao (COO Manufacturing, Lanco Solar); Pankaj Batra (Chief, CERC); Gagan Vermani (COO, Sunborne Energy); Kalyan Mukherjee (CEO, Samson Solar Power); Jaideep Malaviya (Malaviya Energy Consultancy); Bharat Bhargava (Head Solar PV, MNRE); M.M. Vijayvargiya (Technical Director, RREC); V.H. Buch (Director, Gujarat Energy Development Agency).
The Solar Future: France | 9-10 November 2010 | Marseille, France
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Summary
On November 9, Solarplaza organized ‘The Solar Future: France’, a conference focusing entirely on the emerging French PV Market. During this event, expert speakers presented their outlook concerning developments in the French market and share their knowledge and experience. Through this highly interactive conference, Solarplaza enabled the international industry and local players to interconnect and form valuable business partnerships. In addition to the conference, participants had the opportunity to visit two solar PV projects in southern France on November 10. These visits gave them the chance to gain a full grasp of the country’s potential and enabled them to connect with their peers in an exclusive environment.
Speakers
Thierry Lepercq (Chairman, Solairedirect); Richard Loyen (Managing Director Enerplan); Edwin Koot (CEO, Solarplaza); Arnaud Gossement (Associate Lawyer, Barreau de Paris); Jean-Baptiste Brochier (Solar specialist, Solar Energy Consulting); Francesc Queralt Ramio (Founder, Social Energy); Fabien Occhipinti (Sales Director, Trina Solar); Robert Kröni (EVP Power Plants, ITS | Innotech); Fabrice Juquois (Photeïs); Emmeline Blondeau (Consultant, HESPUL); Loïc Toth (CEO, Kern Assurance); Cécile Cessac (Lawyer, Cabinet Brun Cessac); Xavier Allanic (Screen Solar); Sebastian Michel (Urbasolar); Patrick Bernard (OSEO); Christine Hanon (Veolia Environment); Michael Grezes (Director of Development and Management of PV projects; Juwi)
Global Demand Conference IV | 6-7 September 2010 | Valencia, Spain
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Summary
Following the success of the previous three Global Demand Conferences, Solarplaza decided to extende the conference to a two-day event, which took place on September 6 and 7 in Valencia, during PVSEC 2010. The first day of the conference focused on the most promising emerging markets, while the second day was all about the world's current Top 10 solar PV markets.
Speakers
Gerhard Stryi-Hipp (Head Energy Policy, Frauenhofer ISE); Paula Mints (Director, Navigant Consulting); Gert Gremes (President, GIFI); Richard Loyen (Managing Director, Energplan); Alex Zhu (Head GPS, Suntech Power); James Plastow (Global Product Strategy Manager, Solar Frontier); Yves de Backer (Business Development Manager, Enfinity); Steve Blume (Senior Advisor to Simon Corbell MLA); Martin Müller (Director, CZREA); Mark Jee (Director, Solar&Energy); Luis Torres (Managing Director, SunPower Corp); Henning Wicht (Senior Director, iSuppli); Vishal Shah (Industry and Market Analyst, Barclays Capital; Ray Noble (REA); Stelios Psomas (Policy Advisor, HELAPCO); Vladimir Budyansky (CEO, Quantum Business Group); Rajiv Arya (CEO, Moser Baer PV); Ryan Hammond (Managing Director, Solairedirect); Karin Boistelle (Global Marketing and Communication Manager, Tenesol); Dr. Baha Kuban (PV Consultant, CleanGlobe); Nikola Gazdov (Chairman, BPVA); Torsten Scholl (Co-Founder, Omniwatt AG); Marcio Matos (Sales Director, Martifer Solar); Markus Monssen-Wackerbeck (Head Energy & Utilities, EuPD Research)
UK PV Conference (UK) | 22 June 2010 | London, United Kingdom
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Summary
New Feed-In Tariffs in the UK: Where do opportunities for the PV industry lie? How will the UK PV market develop over the next three years?
The conference was designed to kick-start the newly developing market for solar PV in the UK after the introduction of feed-in tariffs by the UK government.
This conference provided an overview of where the opportunities lie, and which segments of the market are most likely to benefit in the short term. Conference participants learned what the conditions are like in the UK for the development of large-scale solar and residential projects. Furthermore, this event offered insight into the question of which business models are most likely to benefit from the improved framework conditions for solar energy in the UK.
Speakers
Hermann Scheer (German Parliament, World Council Renewable Energy), Jeremy Legett (Chairman Solar Century), Edwin Koot (CEO Solarplaza), Ben Hill (Director Sales & Marketing Trina Solar Europe), Ray Noble (PV Specialist REA), Philip Wolfe (Managing Director Ownenergy), Teun Bokhoven (CEO Zen International), Paul Lewis (CEO Self Energy), Thomas Wedde (Sales Manager SMA Technology), Bruce Huber (Managing Director Jefferies), Clive Collison (Owner South facing), Giuliano Digilio (Executive Officer ECA), Stefanie Rief (Project Officer NEF), Faried Muscati (CSO Thermovolt), Keith Duncan (Senior Manager Renewable Compliance Ofgem), Michael Pitcher (Managing Director BFC Solutions)
Sponsors
ZEN Renewables (Main sponsor), Emerson Control Techniques (Co-sponsor), Thermovolt (Co-sponsor), Goldbeck (Co-sponsor), Trina Solar (Co-sponsor), Resonates (Co-sponsor)
The Solar Future Conference (DE) | 8 June 2010 | Munich, Germany
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Summary
SolarPlaza´s second “Solar Future Conference” offered a platform to hear and meet business leaders in the global solar PV market. The conference focused on vision and strategies related to solar industry supply, market demand, technology, business strategy, cost, and financial trends. It took place in the same city as the world´s largest trade fair for solar technology - the Intersolar Europe.
At this top-level conference, the world’s leading CEOs, gurus, experts and analysts will provided valuable insights in how the PV industry and the PV market will look in 2013. The one-day conference was subdivided in four sessions: the gurus and analysts´ visions, the upstream and downstream players´ visions and a session on the large-scale use of PV.
The speakers explained, for example, how crystalline silicon can compete with thin-film technologies, which business model will survive, when inverter shortages will be overcome and if feed-in tariffs will still be necessary in 2013. In addition, they discussed what the cost per kWh will be for solar electricity and what will be needed to realise the global mass introduction of PV. In the afternoon, there was a panel discussion with the audience.
Speakers
Bruce Sohn (President First Solar), Xiaofeng Peng (CEO LDK Solar), Ingmar Wilhelm (VP Enel, President EPIA), Karl Kuhlmann (CEO Solarstrom), Manfred Bächler (CTO Phoenix Solar), Christoph von Bergen (Managing Director Sputnik Engineering), Christer Tryggestad (Partner McKinsey&Co.), Henning Wicht (Director iSuppli), Ben Hill (VP Europe Trina Solar), Jesse Pichel (Head Cleantech Jefferies&co.), Shyam Mehta (Senior Analyst Greentech), Matt Cheney (Former CEO Renewable Ventures), Uttam Reddy (Chairman Solar Energy Manufacturers Association India)
The Solar Future Conference II (NL) | 22 April 2010 | Utrecht, Netherlands
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Summary
On 22 April 2010 some two hundred people gathered in the Mediaplaza (Utrecht, Netherlands) to discuss the chances that are open in the Dutch PV market. These chances have changed drastically: six years ago the Netherlands were still the fourth market in the world, but since then this position is steadily decreasing and the Netherlands have been passed by neighbors like Belgium.
Optimism however dominated the day: local governments stimulate solar initiatives where the national government is reluctant to do so and entrepreneurs believe that now is the time to build a Dutch solar PV industry, if the Netherlands want to play a role in the energy-revolution. Thanks to an excellent line of speakers and great networking opportunities this conference was valued very high by its participants!
Speakers
Ruud Lubbers (Former minister president of the Netherlands), Jacqueline Cramer (Former minister of housing and environment), Edwin Koot (CEO Solarplaza), Dennis Gieselaar (Managing director & co-founder Oskomera Power Solutions), Prof. Wim Sinke (Unitmanager solar-energy ECN & International PV expert), Ashok Balotra (Architect & directeur Kuiper Compagnons), Bouke Siebenga (General Manager Mastervolt Solar), Henk Roelofs (Director Solland Solar), Frans van den Heuvel (CEO Scheuten Solar), Gert-Jan Jongerden (Director Nuon Helianthos), Frits Verhoef (Director Energieker), Jadranka Cace (Director RenCom / senior PV consultant), Esther Zumpolle (Director Your Business Duurzame Dienstverlening & Chairwoman PV sectie ODE), Bouwe de Boer (Energycoördinator Leeuwarden), Jeroen Roos (Senior Consultant / Business Developer Builddesk), Ir. Richard Kooloos (Chairman Fortis Groenbank), Rob van Rees (Director and founder Greenchoice)
Sponsors
Solar NRG (Main sponsor), Green Loans (Co-sponsor), Parkstad Limburg (Co-sponsor), Scheuten Solar (Network sponsor), Mastervolt (Network sponsor)
Global Demand Conference III | 22 September 2009 | Hamburg, Germany
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Summary
The third edition of the international Global Demand Conference discussed the demand dynamics in the world's major PV Markets. This event provided a platform for exchanging crucial market information with leading experts, creating a real global market demand-side overview. This one-day event organised by SolarPlaza for the third consecutive year, took place on 22 September in Hamburg (Germany), during the 24th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (21 to 25 September 2009).
Speakers
Richard Loyen (Enerplan), Paula Mints (Navigant Consulting, Joe Berwind (Alternative Energy Investing), Gerhard Stryi-Hipp (BSW-Solar), Javier Anta (ASIF), Stelios Psomas (HELAPCO), Gert Gremes (GIFI), Henk Vanderhaeghen (Enfinity), Prof. Donghwan Kim, Dr. Hiroshi Matsukawa (RTS Corporation), Vishal Shah (Barclays Capital), Rajiv Arya (Moserbaer), Bronislav Bechnik (CZREA), Stephen Cai (CEEG), B.V. Naidu (ISA)
The Solar Future Conference (DE) | 26 May 2009 | Munich, Germany
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Summary
‘The Solar Future’ conference offered a great platform for high-level networking and anyone interested in learning about the next big global industry. An industry that will create more than 50 billion dollars of annual revenues in 2012. For a single day, the world’s top minds came together to discuss the future of the fastest-growing renewable energy at a critical time for the industry.
Speakers
Bruce Sohn (First Solar) , Lynn Sha (QS Solar) , Peter Fath (Centrotherm) , Barry Cinnamon (Akeena Solar) , Zhengrong Shi (Suntech Power) , Anton Milner (Q-Cells) , David Rubin (SEPA) , Stephen O'Rourke (Deutsche Bank) , Travis Bradford (Prometheus Institute) , Edwin Koot (SolarPlaza)
The Solar Future Conference (NL) | 22 April 2009 | Rotterdam, Netherlands
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Summary
The themes of The Solar Future Conference were: technology, industry, market, investing and vision. Dutch solar-entrepreneurs from all over the world talked about how the international industry and market will develop. They also discussed new technologies, investment opportunities and of course the Dutch PV market.
Speakers
Hermann Scheer (Eurosolar and member of German Parliament), Jos van der Hyden (First Solar) , Albert Krikken (Good Energies) , Ewout Krijger (Rabobank) , Ralf Bauer (Enfinity) , Wim Sinke (ECN) , Harold Hoskens (SolarFun) , Frans van de Heuvel (Scheuten Solar) , Martin Fleuster (Solland Solar) , Benno Wiersma (Sunergy Investco) , Paul Lubbers (Energes) , Steven Pleging (Ecostream), Dennis Gieselaar (Holland Solar) and Michiel van Drunen (Roderick Investments).
International PV Trade Mission India | 16-20 February 2009 | Bangalore, New Delhi, Hyderabad, India
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Summary
During the India tour the delegation explored business opportunities, met emerging PV companies, visited thin-film silicon solar cell manufacturers, learned about the global PV market dynamics and learned about the PV government policy, business and investment opportunities. Furthermore there was enough time to establish new international business relations with fellow participants, enjoy discussions and discover the Indian culture with other committed solar energy business people.
Factories visited
Moser Baer, XL Telecom & Energy and Solar Semiconductor
Companies presented
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, ISA, First Solar, Solar Semiconductor, SMA, Astonfield Renewable Resources, IREDA, SriPower, Gujarat Energy Development Agency, Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation, DPSCL, Orb Energy and Energy Group of IT Power India
Testimonials
"Thanks again for a great tour! Extremely thorough and great access to very relevant companies, it was very valuable." - Marie Fazio (REC Solar)
"Congratulations. You have done a very good job organizing this tour. Preparation, contacts, information were all excellent. It opened new perspectives for us." - Maria Lahuerta (ADES)
International PV Trade Mission China | 24-28 November 2008 | China
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Summary
The third International PV Trade Mission to China was held from 24 to 28 November 2008. This open trade mission, dedicated to solar PV and organized by SolarPlaza, included visits to major and emerging manufacturers of crystalline and thin-film solar modules in the Shanghai and Shenzhen regions.
Factories visited
Solarfun Power, QS Solar, Trina Solar, Astronergy and Sunergy
Companies presented
Suntech Power, Yingli Solar, SUNGEN, BLD Solar, Amplesun, ET Solar, XinAo, CSI Solar
Testimonials
"The PV tour of China was a great way to get an overview of the key developments underway in China in the field of solar energy." - Atul Vijaykar (Solaria)
"Please do not let my fellow PV system integrators know about how great your China Tour was. The insights I gained about the future of Chinese manufacturing were terrific. Moreover, the networking with other international PV leaders that I enjoyed during informal times of the tour were indispensible." - Barry Cinnamon (Akeena Solar)
Second Global Demand Conference | 2 September 2008 | Valencia, Spain
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Summary
On 22 September 2009, the international solar expert conference - Demand Dynamics in the Major PV markets - provided a platform to exchange crucial market information with leading experts, creating a real global market demand-side overview.
Speakers
Travis Bradford (Prometheus Institute), Gerard Stryi-Hipp (BSW), Javier Anta (ASIF), Jigar Shah (SunEdison), Richard Loyen (Enerplan), Peter Lorenz (McKinsey), Stelios Psomas (HELAPCO), Hiroshi Matsukawa (RTS Corporation), Gerardo Montanino (GSE) and Stephen O'Rourke (Deutsche Bank)
Testimonials
"It was a great opportunity to make contacts and getting a picture about the market trends and interest from different industry partners." - Francisco Conesa(Phoenix Solar)
"I was really impressed which additional business contacts rised because of my participation. I can really recommend to join these tours. It was not only perfectly organised but also very fruitful business wise." - Andreas Fankhauser (Sputnik Engineering)
The Thin-film Future | 11 June 2008 | Munich, Germany
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Summary
Will the cost price reductions announced by several manufacturers provide a shortcut to reaching 'grid parity' sooner than with crystalline solar technology? On 11 June 2008, the international solar energy conference took place in Munich entitled "The Thin-film Future". Almost two hundred attendees coming from 27 countries were given an expert breakdown of the latest developments in the field of thin-film technology.
Speakers
Martin Roscheisen, Nanosolar, Charles Gay (Applied Materials) , Stephan Hansen (First Solar) , Charlie Han (NexPower) , Chris Constantine (Oerlikon Solar), Travis Bradford (Prometheus Institute), Ravi Khanna (MoserBaer), Manfred Baechler (Phoenix Solar), George Hanna (Q-cells), Fumihiro Tanikawa (Kaneka), Romain Henricart (QS Solar) and Edwin Koot (SolarPlaza)
Testimonials
"It was great. Very well organized, good speakers, excellent topics. This gave me a good introduction into the Thin-Film solar business/market." - Marcel Verschuur (Fluor Corporation)
"It was a unique conference on the hot topic of Thin Film." - Fumihiro Tanikawa (KANEKA Belgium)
Solar Energy Investment opportunities in Italy | 27-28 March 2008 | Rome, Italy
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Summary
The purpose of this international event was to explore investment opportunities and to match the Italian PV project developers with the growing group of national and international investors and renewable energy equity funds.
Speakers
Gerardo Montanino (GSE), Marco Ghirardello (Enerray), Domenico Inglieri (RED2002), Manfred Baechler (Phoenix Solar), Michele Appendino (Solar Ventures), Jamie Richards (Foresight Venture Partners), Alex Sorokin (InterEnergy), Lorenzo Podesta (Sunnergy), Domenico Sartore (SOLON), Mr. Franconi (Dexia Bank), Nicolaus Von Einem (Epuron), Salvatore Cristofori (Soluxia), Andrea Brumgnach (Ecostream), Marco Burini (Energia Sviluppo), Lucca Miotti (REN Electron), Felice Nicola Covelli (Merloni Progetti)
Testimonials
"The event in Italy once again proved SolarPlaza tours are not to be missed. There is no other way to gather essential market info in such a brief period of time." - Martin Meijers (Enfinity Italia)
PV Business Tour Taiwan | 17-21 February 2008 | Taiwan
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PV Business Tour California | 20-25 January 2008 | California, United States
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