The international solar industry is meeting at the ICM - Internationales Congress Center Munchen to kick off the Intersolar Europe Conference, which brings together industry participants and experts from around the world to discuss trends, markets and technologies within the global solar industry.

Between today and June 4, around 300 speakers and 2,000 attendees are set to participate in the conference's discussions and expert presentations to share the latest market developments, technological trends and practical expertise.

In addition to photovoltaics and PV production technologies, this year's event is focusing on energy storage and the new topic of solar thermal technologies and renewable heating.The conference program expands on and consolidates the topics presented at Intersolar Europe, the world's leading exhibition for the solar industry, taking place at Messe Munchen from June 4-6.

The Intersolar Europe Conference is taking place this year from June 2-4 at the ICM - Internationales Congress Center Munchen, opening two days ahead of the world's largest exhibition for the solar industry, Intersolar Europe. International experts from research institutions, industry and associations are set to comment and elaborate on the exhibition's topics and trends.

By covering photovoltaics, PV production technologies and the new topic of renewable heating, the presentations, panel discussions and workshops address important industry trends and topics.

What's more, the sessions on energy storage also allow the conference to focus on the technology showcased at the electrical energy storage (ees) exhibition, which this year takes place for the first time. Various networking events also provide numerous opportunities to meet international industry representatives, share experiences and maintain existing contacts.

The PV markets of the future
This year's Intersolar Europe Conference opens with the Global Market Outlook for Photovoltaics 2014-2018, presented by the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA). The report, which details the development of the world's photovoltaics markets, was created with the support of Intersolar Europe. It opens the Intersolar Europe Conference in room 14 A of the ICM at 10:00am on June 2 and also features in the press conference that follows.

As the conference progresses, experts go on to put individual markets under the microscope, beginning on June 2 by examining in detail the PV markets in Asia, Europe and America. An equally high level of attention is also paid to the markets in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA region).

Here, the sun provides countries such as Egypt and Jordan, which are dependent on oil and gas imports, with an ideal alternative source of energy, the importance of which is being increasingly recognized. Two sessions on June 3 shed light on the markets in the Middle East and Africa, describing the conditions and trends found in these regions.

Renowned industry players discuss the latest trends
The discussions held by the Executive Panel on the second day of the conference are one of the event's highlights and see prominent representatives from the solar industry debate the future of the European PV market, technological trends and new business models.

Taking part in the panel discussion are Udo Mohrstedt, CEO of IBC Solar AG, Christoph Ostermann, CEO of Sonnenbatterie GmbH, Oliver Schafer, President of the EPIA and Pekka Tiitinen, Head of Discrete Automation and Motion Division at ABB Switzerland.

A further point on the program not to be missed is the General Session taking place in room 14 B of the ICM at 10:00am on June 4. Here, Prof. Dr. Claudia Kemfert, Head of the Energy, Transportation and Environment Department at the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW) and Frank Peter, Senior Energy Industry Project Manager at Prognos AG, discuss ways of driving forward the energy transition given the prevailing political conditions and the way in which the price of generating power using conventional and renewable energy sources is developing.

More than 50 additional presentations and rounds of talks see the industry experts discuss and shed light on technological developments in photovoltaics in areas ranging from solar cells, modules and inverters to manufacturing and recycling processes, large installations, hybrid and roof-mounted systems and new business and financing models.

Extensive program on battery and energy storage technologies
2014 marks the first time that the electrical energy storage (ees) exhibition is being hosted by Intersolar. At the Intersolar Europe Conference, a total of seven ees sessions shine the spotlight on the latest developments in energy storage. The opening session on June 2 devotes itself mainly to storage markets in Europe and Asia and, by examining the German market, analyzes the status and prospects of the current market incentive program powered by the German government.

Further sessions on June 3 focus on various storage technologies, small and large-scale storage systems and their significance for expanding the use of renewable sources of energy, while another session focuses on recycling processes and the reuse of batteries. On the last day of the conference, June 4, the European markets for batteries and aspects relating to the safety of energy storage systems are once again on the agenda.

Renewable heating at the Intersolar Europe Conference
In addition to the areas of photovoltaics, PV production technologies, energy storage systems and solar thermal technologies, the world's largest exhibition for the solar industry now includes an area of focus dedicated to renewable heating. The conference is no different, as the experts in attendance dedicate themselves to this topic as well.

The Renewable Energy Buildings session on June 3 presents a range of technologies, such as heat pumps, photovoltaic installations, biomass boilers and combined heat and power plants. Further sessions entitled Solar Buildings and Solar Heating Market and Technology Outlook showcase systems for constructing energy-efficient buildings and deal with the energy label and the European Buildings Directive requiring nearly zero-energy buildings.

Partners of the Intersolar Europe Conference
The partners of this year's Intersolar Europe Conference are the Association of European Automotive and Industrial Battery Manufacturers (EUROBAT), the German Solar Industry Association (BSW-Solar), the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA), the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE), the Institute of Thermodynamics and Thermal Engineering (ITW), the East Bavarian Technology Transfer Institute (OTTI), PV CYCLE, SEMI and the German Engineering Federation (VDMA). The conference is sponsored by DNV GL - Energy.

Intersolar Europe 2014 takes place from June 4-6 at Messe Munchen.