World's Largest Solar Show Extends to North America in 2008

SAN FRANCISCO, March 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Solar Promotion International GmbH, Freiburg Management und Marketing International GmbH (FMMI) and Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI) announce the debut of the Intersolar North America exhibition and conference, to take place from July 15-17 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California. Being held in conjunction with the SEMICON West 2008 exhibition, Intersolar North America 2008 will represent the most comprehensive solar industry exhibition in the United States.

Intersolar North America 2008 will be the continent's premier international exhibition for photovoltaics, solar thermal technology and solar architecture. Coupled with SEMICON West, Intersolar North America 2008 will also attract a broad base of attendees in the complimentary markets of semiconductor and nano-electronics manufacturing and development. The event will utilize 350,000 square feet of combined exhibition space throughout the Moscone Center -- California's largest exhibition facility -- and will draw around 200 international solar-related companies and 1,400 exhibitors overall. Intersolar North America is expected to attract over 10,000 visitors, including experienced solar industry professionals, technology developers, investors and government officials. In addition to touring the exposition hall, an "Innovation Exchange" seminar over the three day exhibition will offer attendees the opportunity to collect information on specific products or research through presentations from solar industry companies.

"Intersolar Europe is already known as the world's largest solar industry event," said Solar Promotion International's chief executive, Markus Elsaesser. "We are pleased to bring this show to the United States, and particularly California, which is rapidly becoming a crucial region for the international development and deployment of solar technologies," he continued.

The United States has experienced a rapid growth of solar electric infrastructure, installing more than 300 megawatts and bringing over $2 billion into the national economy in 2007 alone according to research compiled by Rhone Resch and SEIA, making it a vital player in the world solar market. California is the nation's largest generator of solar electric power, and the focus of many solar programs. The California Solar Initiative will provide more than $3 billion in solar-electric rebates, and produce 3,000 megawatts of solar electric power by 2017, while more than 30,000 homes and businesses in the state already have installed photovoltaic solar systems. California is not only leading the nation in installations, it is also the leader in solar manufacturing and development. California companies received half of all US solar power venture funding investments in 2007, funneling $654 million into the sector -- up from $253 million in 2006.

Intersolar North America 2008 will be this year's leading event for building relationships throughout the industry, investment opportunities, developing business prospects and meeting customers in this important and ever-growing market.

It will also be a venue for attendees to receive information critical to solar development. In addition to the international exhibition, Intersolar North America will simultaneously feature a conference addressing important industry issues in photovoltaics, such as system technologies, tracking systems, crystalline silicon, thin film and concentrator technologies. The conference will also address solar thermal and integrated technologies, financing and investments, materials issues and politics through a series of specific technical workshops, panel discussions and presentations.

Intersolar North America is pleased to announce that the Chairman of the Conference Committee will be Professor Eicke R. Weber, Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) in Freiburg, Germany. Professor Weber will lead a panel of 10-15 distinguished specialists from around the solar industry that will make up the Conference Committee. The ISE institute is one of the world-leading research institutes in the fields of renewable energy and energy efficiency. From 1983 Professor Weber was a faculty member in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley until he retired in 2007.

"This coming together of the worldwide solar industry in San Francisco will play a vital role in empowering solar manufacturing and development," Professor Weber said. "The hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of attendees will collectively share information, build relationships and develop business opportunities that will enrich and grow the solar industry around the world."

About Intersolar:

The Intersolar brand is internationally recognized as the leading event for the solar energy industry. Intersolar Europe, previously held in Freiburg, Germany, has switched venues due to greater demand for space and is now held annually at the New Trade Fair Centre in Munich. Intersolar Europe is the world's largest solar exhibition with more than 800 exhibitors and an exhibition space of almost 670,000 square feet.

Solar Promotion International GmbH

Solar Promotion International GmbH, of Germany, organizes exhibitions and conferences worldwide for the solar industry. Founded in 2001, Solar Promotion promotes solar technologies around the world to help further their advancement and implementation into everyday use. Solar Promotion organizes events in the photovoltaic, solar thermal, solar architecture, building efficiency technologies and efficient pellet fuel technology branches. These events include: Intersolar Europe, Intersolar North America, Interpellets, the Solar Thermal Industry Forum and Photovoltaic Industry Forum, among others. For further information, visit http://www.intersolar.de.

SEMI

SEMI is the global industry association serving the manufacturing supply chains for the microelectronic, display and photovoltaic industries. SEMI member companies are the engine of the future, enabling smarter, faster and more economical products that improve our lives. Since 1970, SEMI has been committed to helping members grow more profitably, create new markets and meet common industry challenges. SEMI maintains offices in Austin, Beijing, Brussels, Hsinchu, Moscow, San Jose, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Tokyo, and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit http://www.semi.org.

Freiburg Management und Marketing International GmbH (FMMI)

Freiburg Management und Marketing International GmbH (FMMI) is owned and operated by the City of Freiburg and founded with the aim of promoting international cooperatives and organizing trade exhibitions and conferences relating to the economy, tourism, the environment and international city partnerships, at the behest of the City of Freiburg. "Green City Freiburg" is marketed worldwide to describe Freiburg's decades of expertise in solar technology, renewable energies and sustainable urban and traffic planning. FMMI's international activities strengthen and promote Freiburg as an economic hub. For further information, visit http://www.fwtm.freiburg.de.