Intersolar North America to Share Insights Behind Explosive U.S. Market Growth

SAN FRANCISCO, March 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Intersolar North America, the most attended industry exhibition and conference in North America for solar professionals to exchange information and develop business opportunities, has expanded its offerings to better educate attendees on the latest market developments—both upstream and downstream—fueling the continued growth of the U.S. solar industry.

With 4.2 gigawatts installed during 2013, the U.S. solar market is now the leading solar market
outside the Asia-Pacific region. In 2014, the U.S. installed capacity is predicted to grow between 5.2 and 6.3 gigawatts, according to NPD Solarbuzz. Key to maintaining that growth is supportive policy, project financing and new technological innovations in areas such as energy storage and balance of system components. The Intersolar North America exhibition and conference program features a week of events, conference panels and training sessions that provide insight into these developments, and more. Additionally, Intersolar will add a new one-day conference event to its portfolio in 2014 to focus on challenges and opportunities specific to the East Coast market.

Conference and exhibition returns to heart of U.S. solar market

For the seventh year in a row, Intersolar North America will be held in California, home to more than 1,670 solar companies employing approximately 43,700 workers throughout the state, according to the California Solar Energy Industries Association (CALSEIA).

"Intersolar North America keeps a pulse on the key elements driving the U.S. solar market, and we continually enhance our exhibition and conference offerings to better educate stakeholders and
accelerate the industry's path to maturation," commented Klaus Seilnacht, CEO of FMMI International GmbH, an organizer of Intersolar North America. "San Francisco is the hub of industry innovation in the U.S., and we could not imagine holding the conference elsewhere."

In addition to California, a number of established and emerging markets are lending to tremendous nationwide growth. According to NPD Solarbuzz, five states—California, North Carolina, New Jersey, Arizona, and Texas—account for 70 percent of the U.S. solar market share. Arizona and New Jersey are also close to California in terms of solar job creation.

New Intersolar Summits extend conference benefits coast to coast

In response to these expanding solar regions, Intersolar will host its first U.S.-based Intersolar Summit on March 20 in Edison, New Jersey. The Summit will focus on the local policies and regional market dynamics impacting the industry along the East Coast.

With a program theme of "80 Percent Renewable Electricity by 2050 – What does that mean today," attendees will hear from New Jersey State Sen. Bob Smith, chair of the state's Environment and Energy Committee, as well as New York State Sen. Kevin Parker and Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula; Dennis Wilson, the president of MSEIA; Lyle Rawlings, vice president of the Mid-Atlantic Solar Energy Industries Association; Michael Trahan, executive director of Solar Connecticut; and Tom Thompson, board member of the Solar Energy Business Association of New England. The event targets solar professionals at all levels of the supply chain, as well as investors, project developers and energy storage and smart grid experts.

"Our new Intersolar Summit series builds on the mission of our global exhibition and conference
series—to foster business connections and showcase innovations in growing and emerging markets," Markus Elsaesser, CEO of Solar Promotion International, an organizer of Intersolar North America. "New Jersey installed approximately 250 MW of solar power projects in 2013 and analysts expect the market to double in 2014. This commitment to solar growth makes the state an ideal location for our first Intersolar Summit in the U.S."

More information on the Intersolar Summit New Jersey can be found on the event website.

About Intersolar North America
With events spanning four continents, Intersolar is the world's leading exhibition series for the solar industry and its partners. It unites people and companies from around the world with the aim of
increasing the share of solar power in our energy supply.

Since its establishment in 2008, Intersolar North America has become the most attended solar event and the premier networking platform for the North American solar industry. Co-located with SEMICON West, it takes place annually at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California, the United States' pioneering solar market.

The event's exhibition and conference both focus on the areas of photovoltaics, PV production
technologies, energy storage and solar thermal technologies. Since being founded, Intersolar has
become the most important industry platform for manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, service
providers and partners of the solar industry.

A total of 576 exhibitors and 17,163 trade visitors participated in Intersolar North America in 2013. The conference featured more than 50 sessions with more than 200 speakers and approximately 1,600 attendees.

With more than 20 years of experience, Intersolar has the unique ability to bring together members of the solar industry from across the world's most influential markets. Intersolar exhibitions and
conferences are held in Munich, San Francisco, Mumbai, Beijing and Sao Paulo. Starting in 2014, these global events will be complemented by the Intersolar Summits, which will take place in emerging and growing markets worldwide.

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

Organizers: Intersolar North America is organized by Solar Promotion International GmbH, Pforzheim and Freiburg Management and Marketing International GmbH (FMMI).

SOURCE Intersolar North America