For the fifth time since the AWARD was launched, Intersolar Europe unveils the nominees for the solar industry innovation prize

Munich, May 21, 2012 – On June 13, the world's largest exhibition for the solar industry honors the innovative strength of the industry for the fifth year running by presenting the Intersolar AWARD for pioneering products and services from Photovoltaics, Solar Thermal Technologies and PV Production Technologies categories. For the first time, exhibitors from Intersolar China were invited to enter the competition alongside those from Intersolar Europe, Intersolar North America and Intersolar India. The best entries from each category have now been nominated for the Intersolar AWARD. The Intersolar AWARD is presented in a ceremony at Intersolar Europe's Innovation Exchange in hall B3, booth B3.450 at 4:30pm on June 13, 2012.

The international solar industry is constantly striving to perfect its products and tap into ever new areas of applications with innovative solutions. From June 13–15, the world's largest exhibition for the solar industry, Intersolar Europe, offers a platform to present the most pioneering technologies and innovations to interested members of the public from around the world. The organizers of Intersolar Europe – Solar Promotion GmbH, Pforzheim and Freiburg Wirtschaft Touristik und Messe GmbH & Co. KG (FWTM), in association with the German Solar Industry Association (BSW-Solar) – are once again presenting the Intersolar AWARD to pay tribute to the industry's innovative strength and drive it forward. The trophy is presented in an official ceremony at Intersolar Europe's Innovation Exchange in hall B3, booth B3.450 at 4:30pm on June 13, 2012. The award goes to the three most innovative companies from each category of Photovoltaics and Solar Thermal Technologies, as well PV Productions Technologies in cooperation with the SEMI PV Group.

Intersolar AWARD 2012 becomes ever more international
To mirror the solar industry's globally expanding network, Intersolar Europe has once again broadened the pool of eligible attendees this year. For the first time, exhibitors from China in Beijing ware invited to put forward their applications alongside those from Intersolar Europe in Munich, Intersolar North America in San Francisco and Intersolar India in Mumbai. Thanks to this development, the number of eligible attendees has now increased to over 3,500 companies, making the Intersolar AWARD the most international prize in the solar industry. What's more, it not only covers the entire technological spectrum, but also represents the diversity and individuality of each market.

Evaluation criteria

Entries for Photovoltaics, Solar Thermal Technologies and PV Production Technologies can be products, services or solutions that debuted in 2012 at Intersolar Europe or Intersolar North America, or were exhibited at Intersolar India or Intersolar China in 2011. Refinements of products and services previously presented at the exhibition can also be submitted. Entries must have undergone industrial trials or already be in industrial use.

Marking its fifth anniversary, the Intersolar AWARD is adding another jewel to its crown, by expanding its categories from 2012 to include Solar Projects. This new category is launching with Solar Projects in North America. Projects can be submitted in this category from the fields of Solar Building, Industrial and Commercial Use and Utility Scale Projects. The nominees were selected in a separate process to the other categories. The award ceremony for new Solar Projects in North America category is held at Intersolar North America on July 10, 2012 in San Francisco.

Solar technology trends in 2012

The varied and innovative entries for the Intersolar AWARD are a clear indication of how solar technology is currently developing around the world. Improving the quality and yield of cells, modules and inverters is one of this year's hot topics in the Photovoltaics category. For example, new electronic components minimize output loses due to shading. New monitoring technologies allow operators to keep track of solar installation yields right down to each module, with the possibility of using mobile smartphone apps to select relevant data. As well as improving individual components, the industry is also working on solutions to perfect the interplay between PV installations, power storage and the grid. The aim of these integration systems is to boost on-site consumption of power generated on the premises and reduce the burden on the grid using local battery storage systems. The solar industry is also focused on safety and early error detection as part of PV installation monitoring in light of stricter fire safety regulations, which apply in the USA, for example. The 2012 photovoltaic trends also include new solutions for robotic assembly of free-standing installations and efficient cleaning of solar installations.

Boosting energy efficiency of solar collectors is one of this year's solar thermal technologies trends. All eyes are on innovative production methods which reduce energy losses from flat plate collectors using transparent insulation, for example. The performance of vacuum tube collectors was further perfected, with innovative coating methods ensuring that absorber tubes can absorb and convert more light into heat. Other trends in the field of solar thermal technologies include recyclable plastic collectors as well as improvements in systems technology with regard to hybrid solar heating systems and efficient energy management systems.

Nominees in the Photovoltaics category

The following companies were nominated for the Intersolar AWARD in the Photovoltaics category: Canadian Solar Inc. (USA), MBJ Services GmbH (Germany), Solon Corporation (USA), Solare Datensysteme GmbH (Germany), Pr.En.Al. srl (Italy), U. I. Lapp GmbH (Germany), SolarEdge Technologies GmbH (Germany), Jurawatt GmbH (Germany), skytron® energy GmbH (Germany), Nedap Energy Systems (Netherlands).

Nominees in the Solar Thermal Technologies category

The nominees for the Intersolar AWARD in the Solar Thermal Technology category are: Chromagen Ltd. (Israel), Ritter Energie- und Umwelttechnik GmbH & Co. KG (Germany), TVP Solar SA (Switzerland), Tigi Ltd. (Israel), Fath Solar GmbH (Germany), Conico Innovations Pty Ltd (Australia), Magen eco-Energy A.C.S Ltd. (Israel), Soltigua - Laterizi Gambettola SRL (Italy), me. Ahrendt GmbH (Germany).

Nominees in the PV Production Technologies category

The following companies were nominated in the PV Production Technologies category: Isra Surface Vision GmbH (Germany), Oerlikon Solar Ltd. (Switzerland), Pasan SA (Switzerland), Pfeiffer Vacuum, Inc. (USA), Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics S.A. (Belgium), Gebr. Schmid GmbH/Schott Solar AG (Germany).

The winners of the Intersolar AWARD 2012 are announced on June 13, 2012 at 4:30pm in an award ceremony at the Innovation Exchange in hall B3, booth B3.450.

Intersolar Europe 2012 takes place from June 13–15 at the Messe München.

Further information on Intersolar Europe can be found at www.intersolar.de

Partners of Intersolar Europe

Intersolar Europe is supported by the leading solar industry associations: the German Solar Industry Association (BSW-Solar) as an exclusive partner, the German Solar Energy Society (DGS), the European Solar Thermal Industry Federation (ESTIF), the International Solar Energy Society (ISES), the SEMI PV Group, and the VDMA (German Engineering Federation), the association platform for photovoltaic production equipment within the German Engineering Association, with the support of the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA).

About Intersolar

With over 3,500 exhibitors and 120,000 visitors spanning three continents, Intersolar is the world's leading exhibition series for the solar industry.

Intersolar Europe takes place annually at the Messe München. Today, it is the world's largest exhibition for the solar industry. In 2011, 2,286 international exhibitors and around 77,000 trade visitors were welcomed to Intersolar Europe. Intersolar Europe focuses on the areas of photovoltaics, PV production technologies and solar thermal technologies. Since its founding, it has become established as the most important industry platform for manufacturers, suppliers, wholesalers and service providers. The accompanying Intersolar Europe Conference consolidates the topics of the exhibition. In 2011, more than 400 speakers and around 2,500 attendees discussed current industry topics and investigated the background of technological, market and political developments.

Intersolar's storied history of international exhibitions and conferences spans more than 20 years. In 2008, Intersolar North America in San Francisco became the second exhibition after Intersolar Europe. This was followed by Intersolar India in 2009, which has been held in Mumbai since 2010, and Intersolar China in Beijing, which was launched in 2011.