SOLARCON India 2009 -- India’s most focused event on solar energy –- begins today!

BANGALORE, INDIA: SOLARCON India 2009, a three-day exhibition and conference organized by Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI), in association with Intersolar, and in partnership with the India Semiconductor Association (ISA) and FabCity, was inaugurated by K Rosaiah, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.

India’s most focused event on solar PV, SOLARCON India 2009 is supported by the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE), Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA), Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corp. (APIIC) and AP Invest.

The global and Indian PV industry, and its ecosystem have gathered at Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC) to share and discuss latest trends in the solar/PV business, the challenges faced by India huge opportunity and the huge opportunity in this segment.

The conference features prominent industry leaders such as K. Subramanya, CEO Tata BP Solar, Sunil Gupta, MD, Cleantech at Morgan Stanley, Dr. Murray Cameron, COO Phoenix Solar, Gaetan Borgers, Global Industry Director, Solar, Dow Corning, Dr. J. Fleischer, Chairman, MAG, Dan Martin, Executive VP, Photovoltaics, SEMI PV Group, Hari Surapaneni, CEO, Solar Semiconductor, Dr. G. Rajeswaran, CTO, Moser Baer PV and Prof. Bruno Burger, Fraunhofer ISE, etc.

Prof. Eicke Weber (PhD), Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE), delivered the keynote on day 1.

Key panel discussions scheduled include -- Global PV Policies and its challenges, Solar Photovoltaics and Climate Change, Key PV products and Applications for India, the photovoltaic market landscape for India, Government policies shaping the growth of the industry, Strategies for cost competitiveness in India: Issues on manufacturing technology and finance etc.

The three-day conference is complemented by a comprehensive exhibition showcasing over 70 exhibitors from 16 countries covering most aspects of PV supply chain.

Commenting on Solarcon India 2009, Satya Prasad, President, SEMI India, said: "Am delighted that within 18 months of its India entry, SEMI has been able to put together a platform, which am confident will become the de facto annual destination and catalyst for the Indian solar / PV space.

"The event also is part of our overall strategy to play a leading role in the growth of the solar/PV space in India which is driven by an eminent PV advisory committee we have put together. Invite the industry and all the parties associated to leverage the platform provided by Solarcon India 2009."