The biggest European Solar Energy Conference will take place in Milan, from September 3 to September 7.

Space cells and efficiency records, new markets, production methods and applications, the latest research results, product and market developments and political framework conditions will be discussed at the world´s leading solar electricity conference at the new showgrounds in Milan. In total, more than 3000 congress participants from around 75 countries are expected. Parallel to the conference, 500 companies will present their products in an exhibition covering an area of more than 30.000 square meters. Compared with last year, the exhibition space has almost doubled.

The 22nd European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition offers an outstanding platform for sharing information between researchers, industry representatives and politicians. Solar cells, modules and inverters as well as materials and systems for their production: the conference and the exhibition cover the whole solar electricity value chain. “With more than 1,200 abstracts received, the European Photovoltaic Conference confirms its role as the most popular platform for the international photovoltaic society”, says Peter Helm, managing director of WIP, organiser of the conference and exhibition.

For the first time in the 30 years history of the conference, there will be an Italian event in addition to the English speaking conference. At this national event, Italian politicians, researchers and industry representatives will discuss the Italian perspective on photovoltaics. “With this year´s congress, we want to push the use of solar electricity in Southern Europe technologically”, explains the Conference Chairman of the 22nd European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference Professor Gerhard Willeke of the Fraunhofer-Institute for Solar Energy Systems. “I am glad that the photovoltaic conference is taking place in Italy this year.”

Since the introduction of the modified feed-in law for solar electricity in February 2007 with simplified application procedures, new feed-in tariffs and the abolition of the funding cap, Italy expects a solar boom. Thanks to the high level of solar irradiation and the outstanding funding conditions, Italy has a strong chance of being among the Top 3 European countries for solar electricity installations in the short term.

The 22nd European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (EU PV SEC) is supported by the European Commission, the Italian Ministry for the Environment, the Italian Ministry for Economic Development, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the World Council for Renewable Energy (WCRE) and the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA [3]).