BRUSSELS, BELGIUM: The SEMI PV Group, in collaboration with Intersolar 2009, is expanding its services for photovoltaic production and technology exhibitors. At Intersolar 2009, companies will have a dedicated hall to showcase their products and services. The "PV Production and Technology Conference," will highlight the most recent and important industry topics and is now going to accompany the new segment at Intersolar 2009.

Semiconductor and photovoltaic production processes are converging, and both are profiting from a significant international market, as well as shared expertise on both sides resulting in better efficiency and cost reductions. This collaboration is highly beneficial for association members and exposition exhibitors.

"We are delighted to have gained an internationally recognized partner for the photovoltaic production and automation sector. The new co-operation with the PV Group allows us to meet the needs of the sector at Intersolar 2009 by expanding our services for the manufacturing industry in this area," explains Markus Elsaesser, managing director of Solar Promotion GmbH, Pforzheim, one of the two organizers of Intersolar 2009.

Klaus W. Seilnacht, managing director of Freiburg Wirtschaft Touristik und Messe GmbH & Co. KG, also an organizer of Intersolar, sees great potential in the cooperation: "As the leading international trade show, our exhibitors and visitors expect us to reflect the latest state-of-the-art of the entire solar technology supply chain. The cooperation with the PV Group will help us to create a worldwide industry network and to promote the industry's further growth."

The SEMI PV Group is a special interest group dedicated to serving the photovoltaic/solar manufacturing supply chain. SEMI is the global industry association serving the manufacturing supply chains for the microelectronic, display and photovoltaic industries.

Photovoltaic production is a growth market
In 2007 the European photovoltaic industry generated total sales revenues of 5.5 billion Euros and continues to trend upwards. Conversely, the price of photovoltaic modules, measured in cost per installed watt, has decreased by more than 50 percent over the past 20 years. This trend is attributed to the constantly rising energy efficiency of modern photovoltaic modules, as well as new manufacturing technologies and the growth and further interlinking of the industry.

"Thanks to the cooperation with Intersolar we will be able to promote the creation of an international industry network and support companies in the further optimization of production. In the long term, this will help to bring prices for solar electricity down further," said Eddy Blokken, director of Technology and Standards at SEMI. "It remains our long-term goal to achieve grid parity for the industry, i.e., being able to offer photovoltaic electricity at a competitive price."

Exhibitors welcome the initiative and see it as an attractive opportunity for strengthening their trade show presence.
"The co-operation between SEMI PV Group and Intersolar in creating a segmented exhibition with a targeted focus on PV production and technology in one hall will address the decision makers important in the worldwide PV community for our products," said Urs Waelchli, vice president of INFICON "We expect that the technical conferences and symposia during Intersolar 2009 will discuss the cutting-edge topics, innovations and ideas necessary to grow the solar manufacturing market."

"Applied Materials considers Intersolar to be one of the most significant events for the global PV industry," states Charlie Gay, vice president and managing director of the Solar Business Group at Applied Materials Inc., Santa Clara, California. "It provides an important venue for us to showcase how our technology helps to drive down the cost per watt of solar electricity and to communicate our unique value to downstream solar markets. We are pleased that SEMI is partnering with Intersolar to create a hall dedicated to PV production and technology."

"Linde believes that this co-operation between SEMI's PV-Group and Intersolar will bring more focus on PV production and technology, particularly in the area of critical materials. Furthermore the important area of PV Standards development will benefit from a wider participation during the show," said Dean O'Connor, head of Solar Business for Linde.

Tailor-made information for PV companies at the PV Industry Forum
In addition to the new services for PV companies at Intersolar 2009, the 5th Annual PV Industry Forum will again welcome manufacturers, service providers and suppliers of the photovoltaic industry from all over the world on May 25 and 26, 2009.

Supporters of Intersolar 2009
Supporters of Intersolar 2009 are the leading associations in the solar industry. German Solar Industry Association (BSW) as Intersolar's exclusive partner, German Solar Energy Society (DGS), the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA), the European Solar Thermal Industry Federation (ESTIF) and the International Solar Energy Society (ISES).