Intersolar Europe opens exhibition doors
Intersolar Europe exhibition has opened and around 1,100 exhibitors are presenting products, solutions and services at Intersolar Europe over three days. Approximately 50,000 visitors are expected to journey to the exhibition.. This year, the electrical energy storage (ees), the international exhibition for energy storage, is being hosted by Intersolar Europe for the first time. The accompanying Intersolar Europe Conference, offers a deeper insight into the topics covered at the exhibition thanks to presentations and workshops held by around 300 speakers.
This year, once again, the international solar industry will convene at Intersolar Europe at Messe Muenchen. Exhibitors from the areas of photovoltaics, PV production technologies as well as the new area of focus of renewable heating team up with the electrical energy storage (ees) to offer a unique range of products and services for the energy transition in the electricity and heating markets. Boasting exhibitors from around 50 countries, eight halls, the partner exhibitions AUTOMATICA and MAINTAIN as well as the Intersolar Europe Conference, this year's exhibition once again provides visitors with a comprehensive strategy and information forum.
The objectives set both by the EU and the German government are ambitious: According to the European Commission, Europe's CO2 emissions should be reduced by 40% by 2030 compared with the 1990 level, while the German government's national climate protection strategy strives to achieve this goal as early as 2020. Nuclear energy, gas and renewable energy in particular could be used to achieve this target. A recent study by Prognos AG, a financial research institute and consultancy, forecasts that the costs for new nuclear power stations will remain stable in the long term, while solar power and wind become increasingly cost-efficient. It concludes that over a 30-year operating period, a system based on renewable sources of energy would be around 20% cheaper than a system based on nuclear power. While politicians have understood that there needs to be more investment into renewable energy in order to drive forward the energy transition and provide a viable alternative to nuclear power, they are risking losing the trust of citizens and the industry. Both privately and commercially used photovoltaic (PV) installations need clear framework conditions ensuring that the installation remains profitable for its users. The threat of on-site consumption in particular is being heavily criticized. Experts are therefore justified in calling for politicians to credibly promote the energy transition. This also includes introducing new guidelines and incentive systems for the heating market, which is responsible for around 50% of energy consumption.
Intersolar Europe's inaugural event was dedicated to energy transition. The session featured Claudia Kemfert, Head of the Energy, Transportation and Environment Department, and Frank Peter, Senior Energy Industry Project Manager at Prognos AG, who discussed the question of how the energy transition can be implemented with locally available renewable sources of energy.
The political situation is just one of numerous solar industry-related topics in the spotlight at Intersolar Europe. The new area of focus of renewable heating looks into solutions for successfully achieving the energy transition, paying particular attention to trends and complete solutions for renewable heating.
