SAN FRANCISCO, April 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Intersolar North America, the premier solar industry exhibition and conference in North America and largest solar event in California, is returning to San Francisco for its biggest show yet at the Moscone Center from July 12-14. Reflecting the current state-of-the-solar-industry, the accompanying conference at Intersolar North America 2011 is the place to hear directly from the experts on all the hottest solar topics in North America. With 20,000 attendees in 2010, representing wide-ranging geographic areas across the continent, Intersolar North America 2011 is expected to be even bigger with over 22,000 visitors, 800 exhibitors and 1,600 conference attendees making it well poised to be a diverse and insightful exhibition that will bring together the key players in solar.

Register to visit the exhibition here.    Download visitor brochure here.

Solar heating up in North America

The U.S. solar market has the potential to double again in 2011, becoming a contender for the largest solar market by 2015. The stage is set for the United States to leap ahead given the 'perfect storm' of incentives, regulations and affordability, making it well positioned for strong growth. Solar energy analysts say that the age of cheap solar is dawning, and widespread use of solar will prevail as prices decline. Noting the tremendous growth potential facilitated by dropping prices, Pike Research senior analyst Peter Asmus noted, "Over the past two years, the prices of actual solar photovoltaic panels have declined by 40 percent." Cleantech analyst at Piper Jaffray & Co, Ahmar Zaman, has said he believes solar power will reach grid parity at a retail level in some markets as early as next year. iSuppli analyst Mike Sheppard also notes, "With European markets maturing in 2012, competition is heating up in North America as industry participants redouble efforts on this fast growing market. The North American market is in a position to benefit from Europe's learning curve and from the lower prices that will stimulate demand."

Sunny outlook for California

California has continued to maintain its solar leadership as state-level policies and incentives continue to drive the solar market. In the November 2010 elections, voters in the state defeated Proposition 23, which would have suspended a state law that set specific targets for the reduction of greenhouse gasses and marked the first public approval of a renewable energy focused bill. According to a January iSuppli report, "The recent defeat in California of a statewide ballot to repeal renewable energy targets will ensure that solar support continues in the United States' largest photovoltaic market." Most recently, the state passed a bill to increase California's Renewable Portfolio Standard to 33 percent by 2020, with an increase of 13 percent, a substantial amount of that energy will come from solar.

"Intersolar's presence in North America, and in California specifically, is significant especially with all the incentives the state has in place right now," said Sue Kateley, Executive Director for the California Solar Energy Industries Association (CALSEIA). "The California Assembly recently passed a bill that would oblige state utilities to get a third of their energy from renewable sources by 2020. This RPS program is currently one of the most aggressive standards in the world and Intersolar is right in the thick of it."

Emerging solar states and territories

Several U.S. states are sprinting full speed toward renewable integration. New Jersey's implementation of its Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC) program, where one SREC is earned for each 1,000 kWh of energy generated, makes the Garden State one of the busiest new solar markets and the only state besides California to install over 100 MW in a single year. The East Coast is emerging as a solar hot spot to watch, with Florida and Pennsylvania gaining solar attention. Pennsylvania will double its 2010 solar generation to just under 100 MW in 2011, making it one of the top five solar states. Florida state legislature appropriated $31.4 million for its HVAC rebate program, which includes a solar energy rebate program. Proving once again, that solar is on the rise across the North America.

New Mexico is in the solar spotlight in 2011 with its GS-Solar 300 MW project set to begin installation this year and projections of more than 100 MW to be installed in 2011, up from just 11 MW in 2010, according to iSuppli. Arizona will continue its aggressive solar drive with numerous rebates and tax incentives, and nearly 250 MW of installations slated for completion in 2011, up from 60 MW in 2010. In Colorado, Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association and the Colorado Renewable Energy Society along with many solar contractors are working on a new program that would shift toward a performance-based model, paying out for more energy. Hawaii, which has abundant sunshine and some of the highest electricity costs in the United States due to its unsupported grid, has set the bar with the most aggressive renewable portfolio standard (RPS) in the United States.

In Canada, Ontario is a contender to become the leading market for solar PV in North America in 2011. Ontario is forecast to install more than 400 MW of solar PV in 2011 -- nearly double that installed by California in 2010, presently the largest North American market for solar PV.

San Francisco: Perfect backdrop for mainstream solar

The San Francisco Bay Area is home to global innovations across multiple sectors and many solar giants, making it ideally suited to host Intersolar North America for the fourth consecutive year. Join us in San Francisco's Moscone Center from July 12-14 to get the inside view of the North American solar landscape and gain perspective of the future of solar direct from the visionaries and luminaries driving the industry forward.

Register for the exhibition here.    Download visitor brochure here.

Visit the Intersolar website at http://www.intersolar.us/.

Join the Intersolar North America conversation, follow live updates from the show floor with www.facebook.com/Intersolar and #Intersolar.

About Intersolar

Intersolar North America takes place annually in San Francisco's Moscone Center West Hall. Since its establishment in 2008, the exhibition and conference have developed into the premier platform for the solar industry in North America. Intersolar North America focuses on photovoltaics and solar thermal technology and has quickly established itself among manufacturers, suppliers, distributors and service providers as an international industry meeting point. More than 800 exhibitors and over 22,000 trade visitors are expected in 2011. The conference and accompanying programs are catering to an expected 2,500 attendees.

Intersolar's global event series spans three continents and features over 3,000 exhibitors and 100,000 visitors in 2011. With 20 years of experience, Intersolar uses its unparalleled knowledge to drive the development of solar markets around the world. Intersolar's events in North America, Europe, India and China form a global network that uniquely brings together the most influential solar markets around the world.

For more information on Intersolar North America please visit: http://www.intersolar.us/.

SOURCE Intersolar North America