Intersolar Award - Highlighting Innovation for a Solar-Powered Future

Intersolar Invites International Solar Companies to Submit Applications for the Solar Industry's Most Distinguished Award for Innovation

MUNICH, February 22, 2011 - On June 8, 2011 the fourth annual Intersolar AWARD is being presented at
Intersolar Europe. The award pays tribute to innovative products and services
in the fields of Photovoltaics, Solar Thermal Technology and PV Production
Technology. This year, the Intersolar AWARD particularly reflects the
industry's international character and global importance: For the first time
exhibitors of Intersolar India in Mumbai are invited to put their
applications forward alongside exhibitors of Intersolar Europe in Munich and
Intersolar North America in San Francisco. This increases the number of
companies entitled to participate to over 3,000. Exhibitors interested in
taking part can submit their application from February 15 to April 1, 2011.

Favorable political framework conditions, such as the Renewable Energy
Sources Act in Germany or the National Solar Mission launched by the Indian
government in early 2010, are leading to continuous growth in the solar
industry worldwide. Intersolar has grown in step with the industry, right
down to its globalization. Because it is the only global event-series for the
solar industry, Intersolar has the unique ability to bring together the most
influential solar markets around the world.

Challenges for the Photovoltaic and Solar Thermal Industry

The industry has grown tremendously on an international level over the
past few years. While this is a positive development, companies have to react
quickly to the challenges that come from such strong growth. For example, in
the future, system costs will need to be further reduced in order to balance
out the contraction of feed-in tariffs in Germany. Indeed, solutions for
decreasing the cost of photovoltaic plants are currently being sought.

In order for the desired, large-scale expansion of photovoltaics to be
achieved, existing grid infrastructures must be adapted. A number of
solutions are already available, spanning from increasing private consumption
through innovative storage concepts, to optimizing load management when
fluctuating energy sources are fed into the grid.

Solar thermal technology is also faced with new challenges, but at the
same time, it continues to open up other areas of application through
technological innovations. In addition to solar heating, these technological
innovations include solar air conditioning, solar thermal power plants and
the production of process heat for various industrial uses. However,
noticeably more cost-effective solutions must be brought onto the market in
future to increase acceptance among end users and industrial clients.

Intersolar AWARD - Honoring an Innovative Industry

The Intersolar AWARD 2011 pays tribute to the innovative strength of the
industry. Klaus Gehrlicher, CEO of Gehrlicher Solar AG based in dornach near
Munich, and a 2010 winner in the Photovoltaics category, notes that "as one
of the most important industry awards, the Intersolar AWARD has worldwide
significance. It is a great advertisement in our communications and a sure
sign of our company's innovative strength". The award-winning products or
services from companies are being presented to an expert audience at
Intersolar Europe in Munich. Nominees and winners will attract the attention
of the international solar industry, even after the exhibition comes to a
close. Roland Heinzen, manager of FSAVE Solartechnik GmbH from Kassel in
Germany, a 2010 winner in the Solar Thermal Technology category, expressed
his delight at being awarded the prize: "The fact that we were able to make a
great impression on the jury of the Intersolar AWARD 2010 with our FLEXSAVE
Duo heat buffer storage tank, strengthens our belief that we, as a highly
innovative company, are moving in the right direction. The award not only
gave us more prominence at Intersolar and within the international solar
industry, but it also proved to our customers that we offer a serious
alternative to conventional solar thermal systems".

Intersolar Expands Circle of Participants

This year, for the first time, exhibitors of Intersolar India in Mumbai
are invited to put forward their applications alongside exhibitors of
Intersolar Europe in Munich and Intersolar North America in San Francisco.
Thanks to this development, the number of eligible participants has now
increased to over 3,000 companies. The Intersolar AWARD is thus the solar
industry's most international prize and makes Intersolar Europe the central
meeting place for leaders of innovation.

Application, Nomination and Award Ceremony

The Intersolar AWARD 2011 is being presented in the Photovoltaics, Solar
Thermal Technology and PV Production Technology categories.

Applications are welcomed for products or solutions being exhibited for
the first time in 2011 at Intersolar Europe or at Intersolar North America,
or that were exhibited at Intersolar India 2010. A product or solution
presented at a previous Intersolar exhibition may also be submitted only
significant refinements have been made to it. Submissions must currently be
going through trials, have been recently trialed or already be in industrial
use.

The multi-stage selection process guarantees that only the most
impressive innovations will be allowed to participate. In the first phase of
the selection process, an expert panel will select the top ten submissions in
each category and nominate them for the Intersolar AWARD. An expert jury,
made up of specialists from science, industry, research and trade media, will
make the final decision and elect three winners from the nominees in each
category. The Intersolar AWARD will be presented during an official ceremony
on June 8, 2011, the first day of Intersolar Europe.

Companies who would like to apply must first preregister under "Exhibitor
Service", then "Marketing + Promotion", and select the menu item "Intersolar
AWARD", at their respective Intersolar website. Once preregistration is
complete, exhibitors will then be given access to download application forms
via the Intersolar AWARD Portal. All applications must be submitted between
February 15 and April 1, 2011.

Intersolar Europe 2011 takes place from June 8-10 at the New Munich Trade
Fair Center.

For more information about Intersolar Europe please go to
www.intersolar.de.

Supporters of Intersolar Europe

Intersolar Europe is supported by the leading solar industry
associations: the German Solar Industry Association (BSW-Solar), as an
exclusive partner of Intersolar Europe, the German Solar Energy Society
(DGS), the European Solar Thermal Industry Federation (ESTIF), the
International Solar Energy Society (ISES) and the SEMI PV Group. With the
support of the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA).

About Intersolar

About Intersolar With over 3,000 exhibitors and more than 100,000
visitors on three continents, Intersolar is the world's leading exhibition
for the entire solar industry. Intersolar Europe takes place annually at the
New Munich Trade Fair Center. Today, it is the world's largest exhibition for
the solar industry, and looks back on a history spanning twenty years. In
2010, 1,884 international exhibitors and more than 72,000 trade visitors were
welcomed to Intersolar Europe. Intersolar Europe focuses on the areas of
Photovoltaics, PV Production Technology and Solar Thermal Technology. Since
its founding, it has become established as the most important industry
platform for manufacturers, suppliers, wholesalers and service providers. The
accompanying Intersolar Europe Conference consolidates the topics of the
exhibition. In 2010, more than 150 speakers and around 2,000 attendees
discussed current industry topics and investigated the background of
technological, market and political developments.

In 2008, Intersolar North America in San Francisco became the second
exhibition after Intersolar Europe, followed by Intersolar India in 2009,
which will be held in Mumbai from 2010. From 2012, Intersolar China will be
added to the Intersolar portfolio. Intersolar Europe is organized by Solar
Promotion GmbH, Pforzheim and Freiburg Wirtschaft Touristik und Messe GmbH &
Co. KG. The exhibitions in North America, India and China are organized by
the international subsidiaries Solar Promotion International GmbH, Pforzheim
and Freiburg Management und Marketing International GmbH (FMMI).

    Contact:

    Solar Promotion GmbH | P.O. Box 100 170 | 75101 Pforzheim
    Horst Dufner | Tel.: +49-7231-58598-0 | Fax: +49-7231-58598-28 |
    info@intersolar.de

    Press contact:

    fischerAppelt, relations | Infanteriestrasse 11a | 80797 Munich, Germany
    Robert Schwarzenbock | Tel. +49-89-747466-23 | Fax +49-89-747466-66 |
    rs@fischerAppelt-relations.de
    Iris Funke | Tel. +49-89-747466-221 | Fax +49-89-747466-66 |
    ifu@fischerAppelt-relations.de

Contact: Solar Promotion GmbH | P.O. Box 100 170 | 75101 Pforzheim , Horst Dufner | Tel.: +49-7231-58598-0 | Fax: +49-7231-58598-28 |, info at intersolar.de . Press contact: fischerAppelt, relations | Infanteriestrasse 11a | 80797 Munich, Germany; Robert Schwarzenbock | Tel. +49-89-747466-23 | Fax +49-89-747466-66 | rs at fischerAppelt-relations.de ; Iris Funke | Tel. +49-89-747466-221 | Fax +49-89-747466-66 | ifu at fischerAppelt-relations.de