Solar Power International 2014 wraps growth-fueled, energized week

Major announcements from SEIA, SEPA highlight active week; SPI 2015 in Anaheim already at 75 percent of this year’s exhibit-space total. 

ALEXANDRIA, VA., October 30, 2014—Solar Power International (SPI) 2014 concluded with strong momentum, becoming North America’s only major solar energy event that’s on a strong growth trajectory.

Indicative of the top solar event on the continent, coupled with an industry on the move, SPI 2014 experienced the only year-over-year growth of any major solar event, with upwards of 15,000 solar energy professionals and advocates converging in Las Vegas to attend top-tier educational programming, network with industry peers, and do business on the expansive, 200,000-plus square-foot exhibition floor. Both statistics—attendees and exhibition square footage—bested last year’s figures.

This year’s installment of SPI, the annual event of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and the Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA), was a newsmaker on several fronts, from companies launching new products on the show floor to major industrywide initiatives. SEIA and SEPA both made headlines with announcements that promise to alter the industry landscape—underscoring how SPI serves as the industry’s annual town square where solar energy professionals gather, business gets done, and news is made.

SEIA President and CEO Rhone Resch declared SPI 2014 the official start of the industry-wide push to get an extension on the federal solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), one of the industry’s most important policy drivers. (Go to http://www.seia.org/act-now to show your support for SEIA’s advocacy efforts.) SEPA President and CEO Julia Hamm launched the 51^st State Initiative, a national challenge open to all to share ideas about how to build a solar market that benefits utilities, industry and the public, while building a reliable, resilient and integrated grid. (Watch http://sepa51.org/ for more information and updates.)

“Solar Power International 2014 was a huge success,” Resch said. “It’s inspiring to see such active participation in our industry—the sort of involvement that must also translate to ensuring that the ITC is extended. I urge all industry members and advocates to join us in this absolutely crucial effort.”

“Solar Power International 2014 underlined, yet again, the recognition across the industry that utility leadership, collaboration and innovation are essential for solar’s continued growth,” said Hamm. “SEPA’s 51st State Initiative is intended to foster new connections between stakeholders — industry, policy makers and utilities — as well as provide an open forum for creative visions of a clean energy future driven by advanced technology and business models. We’ll be bringing many of these new ideas back to SPI 2015.”

Also underscoring SPI’s position as North America’s premier solar event was the lineup of speakers who came to Las Vegas to address the industry. Among them were two of the top influencers in government when it comes to solar energy policy. Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate and a long-time clean-energy champion, spoke unequivocally on how much of a priority the ITC should be for America and, consequently, for Capitol Hill. “Letting these critical incentives expire is not an option,” Reid said. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz, the top energy official in the Executive Branch, ended his keynote by announcing $53 million in new Energy Department funding for ongoing research and development aimed at improving solar technology and driving down costs.

“What makes Solar Power International so special—and SPI 2014 in particular, it turned out—is the concentration of industry members and companies that participate,” said Stephen Miner, President and CEO of Solar Energy Trade Shows, which organizes SPI for SEIA and SEPA. “That’s how business gets done—by companies and individuals coming together—and so we were excited to create that environment in Las Vegas.”

With SPI 2014 having wrapped, the industry now looks to the next two major events on the calendar to further advance discussion and propel solar energy forward. First, the industry swings to the east with PV America. That event, set for March 9-10, 2015 in Boston, meets the need for solar energy professionals to gather regularly.

“The relationships built at SPI 2014 have only just begun,” said Miner. “PV America allows us to take the conversation to the East Coast for an entirely different dynamic.”

SPI 2015 will return to the West Coast, September 14-17, in Anaheim. The conference has already signed up 275 exhibitors for more than 150,000 square feet of show floor space—75 percent of this year’s total.

For more information about PV America, go to http://www.pvamericaexpo.com/. For more information about Solar Power International 2015, go to https://www.re-plus.com/.

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About SPI 2014

Solar Power International is presented by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)® and Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA)®, whose combined efforts have created world-class events. This event focuses solely on creating an environment that fosters the exchange of ideas, knowledge and expertise for furthering solar energy development in the United States. Unlike other solar industry events, all proceeds support the expansion of the U.S. solar energy market through SEIA’s and SEPA’s year-round research and education activities, as well as SEIA’s® advocacy efforts.

About SEIA®

Established in 1974, the Solar Energy Industries Association is the national trade association of the U.S. solar energy industry. Through advocacy and education, SEIA and its 1,000 member companies are building a strong solar industry to power America. As the voice of the industry, SEIA works to make solar a mainstream and significant energy source by expanding markets, removing market barriers, strengthening the industry and educating the public on the benefits of solar energy. www.seia.org.

About SEPA®

The Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) is an educational non-profit dedicated to helping utilities integrate solar power into their energy portfolios for the benefit of utilities, their customers and the public good. With more than 900 utility and solar industry members, SEPA provides unbiased utility solar market intelligence, up-to-date information about technologies and business models, and peer-to-peer interaction. From hosting national events to advancing new business strategies, SEPA helps utilities make smart solar decisions. For more information, visit www.solarelectricpower.org.