Pointing out that the renewable energy sector led to significant job growth in Germany, German Ambassador to Jordan Joachim Heidorn said there is room for bilateral cooperation in both the public and private sectors in renewable energy technology and exchange of expertise.

"Jordan, like Germany, has no oil and no gas. This means Jordan has to import energy, which is costly and depends heavily on others," the ambassador said, noting that Jordan's blend of wind and solar resources makes the country an ideal candidate for investment and innovation.

"I see very good opportunities for cooperation in renewable energy between Germany and Jordan," he noted, adding that renewable energy has the potential to create economic growth and boost employment across the region.

Meanwhile, Irbid Mayor Abdul Raouf Tal noted that renewable energy can help alleviate the negative impact of climate change in Jordan.

"We want aid and assistance in keeping our environment clean and free of pollutants," he stressed.

Vice President of the Irbid Chamber of Industry Hani Abu Hassan, underlined the numerous business opportunities in the sector, while National Energy Research Centre Engineer Muhieddin Tawalbeh noted that thermal solar systems can help cut down on energy consumption of residential buildings, hotels, hospitals and other institutions.

As 96 per cent of the Kingdom's energy is currently imported, accounting for over 20 per cent of its gross domestic product, the country's national energy strategy calls for utilising local alternative energy resources.

Under the plan, renewable energy is to account for 10 per cent of Jordan's energy mix by 2020.

In addition to 600 megawatts (MW) of wind and 300-600MW of solar energy, the government is looking to generate 30-50MW of biomass by 2020. With the advancement of wind power technology, the ministry has said it may double its goal of 600MW of wind energy by 2020.

The first renewable energy project is a wind power plant in Kamsheh, expected to produce 30-40MW of electricity starting next year.

"The US solar market has incredible potential, and with the support of industry associations, including the SEMI PV Group, ASES and CALSEIA, we are creating an opportunity for solar professionals to come together and discuss continued development for the US market," said Markus Elsaesser, CEO of exhibition and conference organizer Solar Promotion International GmbH, in a statement.

Dates and opening times

From Wednesday 30 September to Friday 3 October 2009, from 9:30 to 18:00

Where

New Rome Fair Centre - East Entrance
Periodicity: annual

Rental space options

Five pavilions, over 25.000 sq.m. and fully equipped conference halls

Characteristics of the manifestation

AGRIENERGY EXPO and BIOFUEL EXPO 2009 are the only Italian fairs dedicated to bioenergy and liquid biofuels technology, industry and market. The aim is to promote in the Mediterranean area sustainable technologies, plants, products, by-products and services for cultivation, harvesting, processing and transformation of the agricultural products, forestry and animal rearing used for energy production.
The expos will be the meeting point between international demand and offer, and will help to fully understand and exploit the potential of this growing market. In the near future, the sector will be furthermore supported by both European Union’s environmental policies and targeted national laws promoting a larger use of liquid biofuels, biomass and biogas as response to the emergency caused by greenhouse gases emission.
AGRIENERGY EXPO and BIOFUEL EXPO 2009, will be both held within the international renewable energies event Zeroemission Rome 2009: a great chance to meet visitors and sector companies from the Mediterranean Area.

Visitor's profile

National and international operators of the sector, suppliers of industries of the sector, farming companies and transformers interested in re-conversion, land owners, energy companies, car, motorbike and bus/truck manufacturers, engineering and industrial planning offices, financial investment companies, municipality heads, import-export companies, agents, distributors and representatives, public companies and institutions, researchers and university professors, private citizens interested in the topics.

Courses and workshop

During the exhibition conferences, refresher courses, seminars for sector operators and workshops regarding company presentations with an intense schedule of meetings, will be held.

More details will be available as soon as possible.

Project and Sales Managers

Italian Customers: Veneranda Ianno Veneranda Ianno
International Customers: Roberta Ferraris Roberta Ferraris
Germany and Austria: Sylvia Kumm Sylvia Kumm
U.S.A. and Canada: Laura Ann Shapiro Laura Ann Shapiro

Organization

This event is organized by Artenergy Publishing S.r.l., the leading Italian Company in the organization of events dedicated to renewable energies (wind, solar, biomass, biofuels, concentrating solar power, ecc.), climate change, energy saving, and innovative technologies: photovoltaic, vacuum and coating, photonics, lasers, optics-optoelectronics and imaging technologies, nanotechnologies as well as hydrogen and electric storage technology.

Following its success in 2008, Eco Expo Asia returns with a new co-organiser, Environment Bureau, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The Environment Bureau has confirmed that they will promote environmental technology transfer by inviting the Chinese mainland government to form provincial and city pavilions at this year’s event, reaffirming Eco Expo Asia as a prime business destination in South East Asia.

Moreover, with its mature market, and location in Hong Kong – an active trading hub for the environmental protection industry in Asia, the 4^th Eco Expo Asia will continue to successfully attract thousands of top buyers and agents from the globe to purchase latest eco products, services and technologies.

For brochure download, please click here.

For visitor pre-registration, please click here.

Show details at a glance

Date                          28 – 31 October 2009

Venue                       AsiaWorld-Expo, Hong Kong

Opening hours        28 October                 1030 – 1800

                                  29 – 30 October         1000 – 1800

                                  31 October                 1000 – 1530

Admission                Free admission.       28 –30 October         Open to trade visitors only

                                                                   31 October                Open to trade and public

Major Exhibit Categories

Air Quality

Air pollution & gas emission control

Air purification, filtration & deodorisation technology and equipment

Gas, smoke & chemical monitoring and treatment equipment

Desulphurisation & dust control technology and equipment

Energy Efficiency & Energy

Energy saving devices and products

Renewable & alternative energy

Alternative energy machinery and technology

Energy efficient applications in architecture

Waste & Recycling

Solid waste treatment, incineration & recycling systems

Transport, collection & sorting of waste

Waste water recycling technology and equipment

Biological treatment equipment

Oil recycling technology and equipment

Eco-friendly Product

Biodegradable & recycled products and packaging

Eco-friendly materials for construction and fitting

Organic products

Green decorative materials

For more information, please contact:

Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd

3506 China Resources Building

26 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong

Tel:      (852) 2238 9971

Fax: (852) 2598 8771

ecoexpo@hongkong.messefrankfurt.com

www.ecoexpoasia.com

ET: I heard that they have developed new techniques in America's Silicon Valley [in northern California], that result in even greater cost savings to the industry. Will you exhibit these new developments during this trade show?

ME: Yes, that is the case. Every year, this trade show is a great venue to bring new technological advancements to the customer and the media. During the past few days alone, there were hundreds of new technological advancements.
 
At this time, the talk is about reduction in production costs and this is, as you have mentioned, where Silicon Valley is making great advances concerning Duennschicht [thin film technology] and materials saving technologies. [Duennschicht is “thin film” technology. In its application to solar technology, it refers to the development of a lighter, thinner solar panel that contains less polysilicon. One disadvantage is that it is currently not as efficient at converting solar energy as the traditional silicon panels that currently dominate the market.] But they [thin film panels] are capturing the market and are taking an even greater market share. But compared to conventional silicon technologies, they are still in the minority. Market share is still rather modest, but is steadily increasing. And this is a technology that is not only aggressively advanced in the USA, but is also making inroads in Europe and China. There are many sales representatives. "Grid parity" is already anticipated for 2012. [i.e., photovoltaic electricity — solar power electricity — will be cost-competitive with conventional energy.]

ET: It was the same scenario with computer sales. In the beginning, computers were very expensive and not everyone could afford one. But then, suddenly the prices plummeted. Do you think that solar energy system prices will also come down in the near future, so that more people and most households can afford it?

ME: Yes, I believe this would be the case. The prices have already shown a steep decline. We saw price reductions of between 5 and 8 percent over the past years. At this time we have a special situation. Suddenly, we see price reductions of between 15 and 16 percent. But, the price reduction tendency has been going on for years. Because of larger sales and new technologies, the prices saw a steady decline.

Presently, the so-called "grid parity" is of great importance in the solar energy industry. This is the point in time where the price for the solar-generated electricity for the customer is the same price for the electricity received today through the power outlet. The price difference is no longer that steep. In Germany we expect solar energy to be even with conventional energy by 2012 or 2013, as the price of one rises and the price of the other experiences a reduction.

The price of solar energy has been decreasing about five percent per year and as mentioned earlier, this year it decreased by 15 to 16 percent. That means that the curves will meet at one time or another and will be even with one another. Then, solar energy will be an attractive alternative for everyone. Everyone could then afford a solar electricity system and have it installed on the roof. In areas or countries with higher incidences of solar radiation than in Germany, the time of parity will arrive much earlier. At the moment, government support is still needed; at least this is how it is in Germany. For example, in China, the conditions are not quite as good. But, there are other countries that are better off, and as long as one has a market presence, the market will allow for increased popularity.

ET: What, in your opinion, will be the portion of solar energy in the total energy consumption picture in the future?

ME: At the moment solar energy is about one percent of all energy generation. But, one needs to consider that the technique of industrial production of solar energy is relatively new and has not been available for too long of a time. Actually, one could say that it was not really available before 1999/2000, when the laws about renewable energy were enacted and such energy system installations became more attractive. After that, the industry invested increasingly more in building factories and capacity. When considered, this is a relatively short time since this industry began to develop, and yet has achieved one percent of solar parity. Now, the first step is there and the production capacity is there too.

Installation experts need to be trained, and now we have reached a point in time when development will accelerate. Studies suggest that by 2020 the market penetration will reach about seven percent, given that the basic conditions remain the same. It takes some time for the market to catch up.

For example, if China would enact a renewable energy law, similar to what we have in Germany, then the installation crew and the planners have to be trained. These people need the know-how and this just takes time. Therefore, it is important to begin earlier rather than later, because it takes several years before one reaches the point of profitability. Germany is still the number one place for new installations.

ET: Can you compare the use of solar energy between Germany and other European countries?

ME: For many years, Germany was in first place. Last year, Spain passed Germany, but this year, Germany was once again in first place. The reason for this is that Spain implemented the same model as Germany. However, they made a mistake. The fees were much too high and they did not consider the higher availability of solar radiation. The rate of return in Spain was astronomical, which resulted in companies moving to Spain and installing many large systems. These facilities were installed in open spaces, and they were really large facilities. In response, the Spanish government put brakes on this development, because it just went too fast.

Approximately 2,600 megawatt had been installed. This year, Spain will allow installation of 500 megawatts in total capacity. Seen from a global perspective, this is not bad. This is about the amount reached in the USA last year. In Italy, the installation was around 200 to 300 megawatts. Greece and France also seem to have good conditions. It is happening that more and more countries are getting into the game. But, this year, Germany will probably again be number one.

ET: Thank you for the interview.

The boost this year may seem surprising at first glance, because the solar industry is in a downturn. Slower demand – partly due to an incentive cap in Spain that significantly shrank what was the largest market in the world last year, as well as limited financing in the recession – have led to falling solar-panel prices around the world. Mints estimates the market this year will fall to 3.75 gigawatts. “That’s going to hurt,” she said, especially because the industry’s gotten used to high growth rates and has built some 11 gigawatts of run-rate capacity. “We’ve overbuilt.”

Intersolar North America is the most diverse international business-to-business trade show in the United States for the global solar industry. As the only solar exhibition in North America dedicated to recruiting companies across the solar supply chain from around the world, Intersolar helps the industry improve global supply, distribution, training, regulation and business issues to accelerate market transformation and advance solar as a significant part of the global energy supply.

Intersolar North America 2009 has tripled its floor space and features an expected 500 exhibitors and 15,000 trade visitors in San Francisco’s Moscone Center West on July 14-16. The conference, held at the InterContinental Hotel next door, also increases its size and program to over 25 tracks, circa 150 speakers and 1,600 expected attendees. Intersolar North America - Connecting Solar Business

Conference
The 2009 Conference Program has been finalized and registration is open.
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2nd International Exhibition on Technologies for the Production of Concentrating Solar Power and Solar Thermal Plants

From the 30 September to 3 October 2009 Rome Fair Centre will host the second edition of the first world's fair dedicated to solar concentration (CSP - Concentrating Solar Power) and to technologies for the low temperature thermal solar industry. CSP EXPO - SOLARTECH will take place within ZEROEMISSION ROME 2009 and together with other specialized exhibitions dedicated to renewable energies.
The recent development of innovative technologies for solar concentration plants, together with the European support programs intended for their diffusion in the Countries of the Mediterranean area, and the launch of the "Energy Account" in Italy are creating the conditions for a substantial development of this promising and sustainable energy solution. Companies supplying the solar thermal industry will finally have a major dedicated international showcase.

SPECIAL FOCUS: WATERMED - DESALINATION

"If we could ever competitively, at a cheap rate, get freshwater from salt water, that would be in the long-range interest of humanity and would dwarf any other scientific accomplishments."

John F. Kennedy, 1961

In Mediterranean countries there is growing awareness that the demand for water is growing while natural supplies are increasingly limited. Desalination technologies can render potable both brackish and sea water available in these regions. Focus on Desalination, with a dedicated area, conferences and meetings, will provide an excellent occasion for companies, professionals, scientists and technologists from all aspects of water desalination to meet and exchange ideas and experiences, and update their knowledge of the latest developments in the various aspects of water desalination.

Project and Sales Managers CSP SOLAR TECH EXPO
Italian and International Customers: Alice Domenis Alice Domenis
Germany and Austria: Sylvia Kumm Sylvia Kumm
U.S.A. and Canada: Laura Ann Shapiro Laura Ann Shapiro

WINDPOWER 2009 Conference and Exhibition is the largest annual wind conference and exhibition in the world featuring over 13,000 attendees and over 1000 exhibitors.

Each year, wind energy professionals gather at this event to learn about the latest industry developments and technologies, review new products and services in the expansive exhibit hall, and network with leading industry decision makers.

Join us for what promises to be another exciting event taking place May 4th - 7th, 2009, at McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago, Illinois.

Click Here to download a summary one-pager about WINDPOWER 2009 Conference & Exhibition.

For additional information, visit:

          - Why Attend

          - Conference Overview

          - Conference Schedule

          - Photos from Last Year

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