Positive global market development boosts success
Munich, March 15, 2016 – Intersolar is sending a positive message to the industry – solar energy generation around the world is on the rise. Around 329 billion US dollars were invested in renewable energies last year, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. This represents a considerable increase of 4% from the previous year, and even stands 3% higher than the previous record achieved in 2011. Furthermore, after a difficult few years, growth returned to Europe’s photovoltaics (PV) market in 2015. This means that Intersolar Europe, too, can report positive figures for 2016. The world’s leading exhibition for the solar industry and its partners is set to take place from June 22-24, 2016 at Messe München, accompanied in parallel by ees Europe, the continent’s largest exhibition for batteries and energy storage systems. Over 1,000 exhibitors have already registered for the two exhibitions, representing the first slight increase from the previous year after years of consolidation in the European solar industry. ees Europe in particular is scoring highly among exhibitors. After increasing fivefold in 2015, the exhibition space is expanding by a further 40% in size this year. And the other Intersolar and ees exhibitions from around the world are also enjoying positive growth figures. Indeed, internationality is one of the most important keys to the exhibitions’ success. In 2015, visitors flocked to Intersolar Europe from 165 countries, while exhibitors traveled from 42 nations.
International Intersolar and ees events are thriving
The US and Brazilian markets are already showing signs of strong growth. Intersolar South America, taking place in São Paulo, Brazil, from August 23-25, 2016, and ees North America, taking place in San Francisco, USA, from July 12-14, 2016, are each expected to grow by 50% respectively. The exhibitions benefit from favorable conditions in the international PV and storage system markets.
Record investments in solar energy and storage solutions
Despite falling oil and gas prices, 2015 was a record year for renewable energy, with China, Africa, the USA, Latin America and India in particular driving forward the global energy transition. A photovoltaics boom is forecast for the USA in particular – market research company GTM Research predicts that the market will increase by 119% this year compared with 2015. This would make the United States the second largest photovoltaics market in the world, after China. According to GMT Research, around 16 gigawatts (GW) of photovoltaics output is set to be installed in 2016, adding to the 7.3 GW installed in 2015. China recorded 15 GW growth in 2015, setting a new record level. Other important markets are establishing themselves, too – India with its ambitious expansion plans in particular. According to a report presented only recently by the Mercom Capital Group, an additional 4 GW of photovoltaics output is expected to be installed in India in 2016. The country plans to add 100 GW by 2022. The Latin American solar market is also picking up pace. GTM Research predicts that photovoltaic installations in the region will double in 2016 to reach 2.6 GW. The region’s flourishing markets are considered to be Chile, Honduras, Mexico and Brazil. Last but not least, the energy storage market is also on a very positive growth course. The USA is the clear frontrunner here – the country achieved growth of 243% in 2015, says GTM Research.
