Sun Sets on Solar Exchange 2009 at Arizona State University
Creating Paths to Sustainability Through Innovations in Solar
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Today, executive and technology leaders in the U.S. solar industry gathered at Solar Exchange at Arizona State University (ASU) in Tempe, Ariz., to discuss the emerging trends, value-added strategies and manufacturing innovations that are driving the solar industry. Sponsored by Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc. (SE&A), TUV Rheinland and the Solar Energy Industries Association in association with ASU, the day-long event focused on sustainability and its applications within solar power.
"Solar energy is the key to sustainability for Arizona. It is also the key to a sustainable economy for our state,” said Michael Neary, president of Arizona Solar Energy Industries Association. “Bringing business and technology leaders together for the Solar Exchange advances Arizona's rapidly growing solar industry and creates partnerships between the business and technology sectors that will enable Arizona to take advantage of it's greatest natural resource, the sun."
Raj Batra, vice president of the Automation and Motion Division at SE&A, kicked off the event with an update on the advancements that have been made in the solar industry, followed by a keynote address from Ben Grumbles, the incoming Arizona Director of Environmental Quality, on the role of government in the advancement of renewable energy. Solar Exchange 2009 also featured presentations and panel discussion on topics such as financing renewable energy projects, wireless technologies for solar applications, efficient production of modules (crystalline and thin film), inverter technology and the testing of solar components.
"We held this conference because solar will stand out in the renewables landscape as a key future, energy source,” says Batra. “Since Siemens experience in solar goes back almost 60 years, we feel a responsibility to take a leadership role in building this industry. We know the components, we know the utilities and we know the technology – the whole value chain."
Attendees were also given an opportunity to tour the state-of-the-art solar testing facilities operated by ASU’s Global Institute of Sustainability and TUV Rheinland PTL. TUV Rheinland PTL, a new commercial venture that combines TUV’s international leadership in technology testing and assessment with the expertise of ASU’s Photovoltaics Laboratory, is one of the world’s most comprehensive and sophisticated facilities for testing and certification of solar energy equipment. The company uses Arizona Public Service’s renowned Solar Test and Research Center (STAR) facility for its long-term outdoor testing.
“Solar Exchange 2009 was an excellent opportunity to pull together leaders from industry, research and the community to focus on the major issues to advance energy production using solar photovoltaic and solar thermal technologies” says Richard Bozicevich, vice president of business development, TUV Rheinland Photovoltaic Testing Laboratory. “TUV Rheinland is the leading provider of independent testing and certification for market access of energy technologies globally. With this forum, we provided a platform for discussion on methods to build integrity and sustainability into solar renewable adoption.”
About Siemens
Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc. is one of Siemens’ operating companies in the U.S. Headquartered in the Atlanta suburb of Alpharetta, Ga., Siemens Energy & Automation manufactures and markets one of the world’s broadest ranges of electrical and electronic products, systems and services to industrial and construction market customers. Its technologies range from circuit protection and energy management systems to process control, industrial software and totally integrated automation solutions. The company also has expertise in systems integration, technical services and turnkey industrial systems. For more information:
www.sea.siemens.com
Siemens AG (NYSE: SI) is a global powerhouse in electronics and electrical engineering, and operates in the industry, energy and healthcare sectors. For more than 160 years, Siemens has built a reputation for leading-edge innovation and the quality of its products, services and solutions. With 428,000 employees in 190 countries, Siemens reported worldwide sales of $116.6 billion in fiscal 2008. With its U.S. corporate headquarters in New York City, Siemens in the USA reported sales of $22.4 billion and employs approximately 69,000 people throughout all 50 states and Puerto Rico. For more information on Siemens in the United States, visit:
www.usa.siemens.com