Winfried Hoffmann becomes new EPIA president

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM: Dr. Winfried Hoffmann has become the new President of the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA). He takes over the position after having been elected as EPIA’s new VP, and after VPs Boris Klebensberger and Virgilio Navarro Sanchez-Sicilia declined the presidency.

Additionally, Jerry Stokes has been elected to fill a vacant seat as a Director on EPIA’s eight-member Board. The elections were held at EPIA’s Annual General Meeting in Brussels.

Dr. Hoffmann, a Member of the Supervisory Board of SMA Solar Technology AG, is a pioneer in the European solar industry, having spent more than 30 years working in photovoltaics. He holds a Ph.D. in biophysics, and in 1979 joined the photovoltaic R&D group for thin film solar cells of NUKEM in 1979. He took over the company’s leadership in 1985.

Dr. Hoffmann has also served as the chairman of the Board of RWE SCHOTT Solar GmbH, and as CTO and VP of the Solar Business Group at Applied Materials GmbH, where he was later a consultant.

After his ascension to the EPIA presidency, Dr. Hoffmann said: “Solar PV has just had another record year -- with more than 28 GW of new grid-connected capacity globally in 2011. Today the industry faces major challenges even as our technology approaches competitiveness with conventional electricity sources. In the coming years, we will need to work to create new markets and business models for PV.

"We will also need to make sure that European policymakers understand the importance of maintaining a stable regulatory environment and of markets based on principles of free and fair trade and fair competition principles. As EPIA’s new President, I look forward to addressing these challenges and helping guide our industry into an even brighter future.”

Dr. Hoffmann takes over the EPIA presidency from Ingmar Wilhelm, who held the position for the last two years. Wilhelm, who leads Business Development at Enel Green Power, will remain on the EPIA Board as a VP.

EPIA Members also chose Jerry Stokes of Suntech Europe to fill a Director vacant position on the Board.

Stokes is the president of Suntech Europe. He has been active in the PV market for over 20 years, during which he has worked with both crystalline and thin-film technologies. He holds an honours degree in metallurgy from Brunel University in the UK, and apart from the solar industry has extensive experience in batteries and energy storages, fuel cells, industrial and building automation and new technology marketing.