Here comes the sun

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} SolarPlaza, a consultancy on the global solar power industry, announced today that its international conference on "The Solar Future" is to be held in Munich, Germany on May 26.   The one day conference will discuss the future of the fastest-growing renewable energy at a critical time for the industry.   "Most people think that solar energy is something for the future, when prices have come down and cell efficiencies have further improved," says Edwin Koot, CEO of organizer SolarPlaza. "Well, this is your wake up call, because this future is closer than you could imagine."   With huge strides being made worldwide in electric-powered vehicles and other such developments, the implications for the solar industry are greater than ever.   Solar energy is rapidly becoming more competitive in pricing, with the industry getting ever closer to ÔÇ£grid parityÔÇØÔÇöthe point at which photovoltaic electricity is equal to or cheaper than the price of grid power.   Grid parity has already been achieved in some parts of the world (Hawaii, for instance) in which there are conditions of abundant sunshine and high electricity costs.   Photovoltaic production has been doubling every two years, increasing by an average of 48 percent each year since 2002, making it the worldÔÇÖs fastest-growing energy technology.   Demand for solar energy increased by more than 100 percent in 2008. "This grid parity is the Holy Grail for the solar industry and only the beginning of an unprecedented growth path," Koot says. "At that time, market potential will become unlimited."   Speakers at the conference will include Bruce Sohn, President of First Solar, Dr. Shi, CEO Suntech Power, Anton Milner, CEO Q-cells, renowned analyst Travis Bradford of the Prometheus Institute; Stephen O'Rourke, analyst with Deutsche Bank Securities on Wall Street; and David Rubin, chairman of the board of directors of the Solar Electric Power Association.   *┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á *┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á *