India has one of the fastest growing solar markets in the world. According to the Mercom Capital Group, a total of 8.1 gigawatts (GW) of photovoltaic (PV) capacity had been installed in the country by August 2016, and 21 additional GW are already in the pipeline. These figures present the ideal backdrop against which to hold Intersolar India. From October 19–21, around 230 exhibitors – 15% more than last year – are showcasing their products and services to visitors at India’s largest exhibition and conference for the solar industry. The Intersolar India Conference and ees India inform attendees about innovations in the battery storage industry concurrent with Intersolar Intersolar India for the second year in a row.
Since the Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, declared energy a top priority after his election at the start of 2015, the solar market has boomed. The country has already implemented numerous projects, while many more are currently underway or at the planning stage. The Mercom Capital Group expects an additional 5 GW of PV capacity to be installed in 2016, which would make solar energy the fastest growing generator of renewable energy in India. This trend has been accelerated by the falling cost of solar modules worldwide. Once again, the conditions leading up to Intersolar India 2016 are therefore more than promising.
25 years of Intersolar
This year, Intersolar is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Having started life as a student initiative in 1991, over the years it has established itself as a global source of inspiration and catalyst for the industry. Intersolar India is joining in with the celebrations and has prepared a few new features for its visitors to mark the anniversary.
For example, the Intersolar India Business to Government Forum is being launched this year (October 19, 11:30am–1:00pm, hall 1) to give company representatives the chance to discuss the latest industry challenges with political decision makers. High-profile speakers, such as Dilip Nigam, Director of the National Solar Mission at the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, and Veena Sinha, Director at the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, have already confirmed their attendance.
The Buyer Seller Forum, which is also new for 2016, gives Intersolar India exhibitors the opportunity to meet potential clients in a designated pavilion. Company representatives can use the platform to convince future clients of their products and services.
Intersolar India accompanying program
A central focus of Intersolar India is smart renewable energy, which refers to the combination of energy generation, storage, grid integration and energy management. The Presentation Stage in hall 1 shines the spotlight on the topic on October 20. To find out more, visitors can attend presentations such as Smart Renewable Energy: Microgrids – Serving Unconnected Remote Village Communities to Grid Connected City Consumers (10:30am–11:55am).
A further highlight on the Presentation Stage is the talk by Sushil Reddy, a graduate of the IIT Bombay Energy Science Department. In summer 2016, he traveled 7,000 km through five Indian states on his solar-powered electric bike to raise awareness of the potential of solar energy.
Two important award ceremonies are held at Intersolar India 2016. The Solar Today Awards 2016 are presented at 11:00am on October 21 (Presentation Stage, hall 1) by global business magazine Solar Today. The prize pays tribute to companies that perform pioneering work for the solar industry and is awarded in 16 categories.
The Solar for All Award is presented at 4:00pm on October 19 (Presentation Stage, hall 1). For the second time, the Canopus Foundation is joining forces with the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE to honor projects that supply communities in developing countries with electricity.
Shared booth and conference day on the topic of wind energy
The internationally renowned exhibition for wind energy, HUSUM Wind, is represented with a shared booth at Intersolar India. One day of the specialist conference is dedicated to different aspects of wind energy with international experts. In addition, a delegate tour takes place with Dr. Robert Habeck, Minister of the Energy Transition, Agriculture, the Environment and Rural Areas for the German state of Schleswig-Holstein.
ees India
For the second successive year, ees (electrical energy storage) India is held alongside Intersolar India. Numerous Indian companies work in both the photovoltaics and energy storage sectors. This means that ees India is a perfect addition to the event and supports India on the path to a renewable future.
Intersolar India Conference
The Intersolar India Conference once again takes place at the same time as the exhibition from October 19–20. The intensive Solar PV course (11:00am–6:00pm on both days) gives attendees the chance to take the White House Solar Certification exam. The course is led by Sean White, a leading professor of solar energy and author. The session “India’s Emerging Domestic PV Market – A Reality Check“ (October 19, 11:30am–12:50pm) explores the government’s plans to install around 100 GW of solar energy by 2022. On October 20, the conference turns its attention towards performance measurement and financing models. In the session Project Development: What Makes a Project Successful?, developers and consultants share their experiences about what has made past projects succeed or fail (10:15am–11:40am). In the presentation series Project Financing with Indian Characteristics, financial experts appraise the current challenges in the area of project funding and outline funding opportunities presently available.
