• Solar experts from 25 different countries discussed the future of “solar construction” in Freiburg from 14 to 16 October 2009
• The solar summits are gaining in visitor quality and internationality  

Last Friday marked the conclusion of the highly successful second annual meeting of the international congress series “Solar Summits Freiburg”. From 14 to 16 October 2009, the focus of the conference held at Freiburg Concert Hall was the cutting-edge subject of “solar construction”. In excess of 220 participants including architects, planners, builders and manufacturers as well as representatives from the research sector and solar industry were informed about the latest developments in solar energy research and discussed future projects in the solar and energy-efficient construction sector. The presentations and the round-table discussions concentrated on the focal areas of building-integrated photovoltaics, building-integrated solar thermal energy, multi-functional building façades and comprehensive draft designs for buildings as well as on construction projects that have already been implemented based on solar construction principles.
 
Dr. Hans-Martin Henning, head of the thermal installations and building systems department at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE: “This year’s solar summit conference dealt very successfully with the subject of solar energy utilisation in buildings. At more than 20 scientific lectures, both the integration in buildings of photovoltaics and solar thermal collectors as well as overall concepts for reducing the energy needs of buildings were presented and discussed in a comprehensive manner. In previous years, the focus in the area of building systems was on energy efficiency while standards such as the passive house were developed. The conference this year showed that standards have moved beyond that stage today and that buildings are regarded not only as energy consumers but also as energy generators. A focal area at the meeting was the subject of zero-energy buildings with numerous concepts and technical solution approaches being presented that are intended to enable both new and existing building to generate at least as much energy as they consume seen on the basis of an annual average.”
 
This year too, the congress had a very international flair featuring high-profile speakers and participants from 25 different countries. Not only did the persons concerned come from European countries other than Germany but also from countries such as Israel, Qatar, Tanzania, Brazil, Australia, Japan, Korea and the U.S.A. The internationality of the event was extremely high with a foreign share of 50 percent.
Norbert Bargmann, managing director of Messe München GmbH, was delighted at the worldwide interest shown in the solar summit: “The 2009 congress was exceptionally successful. In what are tense and difficult times, we are particularly pleased at the very large international share of participants in the event. This shows that the congress has successfully established itself as the summit meeting of the solar industry in Freiburg.”
 
Dr. Bernd Dallmann too, managing director of Freiburg Wirtschaft Touristik und Messe GmbH and partner in the solar summit venture, was delighted at the success the congress enjoyed: “The solar summits are the top-level meetings in the areas of research and business as far as the development of the solar industry is concerned. As such, Freiburg is at the forefront of the movement promoting cutting-edge solar technologies.”
 
This-year’s event offered participants an optimum platform for exchanging scientific results and practical experiences in the area of “solar construction”. Almost two thirds of the participants in Solar Summit 2009 occupy leading management positions in the research, industry and business sectors. Manufacturers in particular with a share of 50 percent were very well represented. In its capacity as a partner in the solar summit venture, the Fraunhofer ISE was also well represented with a variety of research contributions. Responsible for the technical management of the congress was Prof. Eicke R. Weber, head of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE and Dr. Hans-Martin Henning, head of the thermal installation and building systems department at Fraunhofer ISE.
 
In addition to the latest research results, the solar summit also acted as an ideal discussion platform for researchers, industrial representatives and politicians. Particularly popular were the stimulating round-table discussions at which future developments and the general political framework were discussed.
 
Hans-Josef Fell, member of parliament in the German Bundestag, spokesman on energy and technology for the Bündnis 90 / The Greens fraction in the German Bundestag: “The contributions and discussions at Solar Summit 2009 illustrate just how large the possibilities and advantages of the integration of solar energy in buildings and the energy system as a whole are. Also of significance is the necessary general political framework which is also the reason why we call on the parties currently engaged in coalition talks to ensure that the political conditions for photovoltaics and other renewable energies do not deteriorate.“
 
A fact worthy of particular mention is the very high level of satisfaction of the participants in this year’s congress. 83 percent of congress visitors rated the event as being excellent to good while, at the same time, praising the outstanding quality of the presentations and the cutting-edge nature of the subjects covered (visitor survey, opinion research institute Wissler&Partner).
 
The solar city of Freiburg offered the ideal surroundings for the solar congress as many technologies in the field of solar energy have been implemented in buildings located in Freiburg Green City. As such, the congress participants benefited from the practical insight they were given into the subject by way of the various tours on offer in addition to the high-quality technical presentations they were able to attend. "The solar summits reinforce Freiburg’s reputation as an international centre of solar research”, stressed Klaus W. Seilnacht, managing director of FWTM - Freiburg Wirtschaft Touristik und Messe GmbH and partner in the solar summit venture.
 
Last year marked the successful première of the international congress series “Solar Summits Freiburg” in the German city of Freiburg. The aim of this series of events is to provide a sound overview of the latest research findings and to promote a transfer of knowledge between researchers, industrial representatives and politicians. The events are organised by Messe München International in partnership with Freiburg Wirtschaft Touristik und Messe GmbH and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE.
 
The next solar summit is scheduled to take place in Freiburg from 13 to 15 October 2010 with the subject of “solar mobility” as its focus.
 
Further information can be found on our home page at www.solar-summits.com.
 

About the "Solar Summits Freiburg" conference series
"Solar Summits Freiburg" is a series of international conferences organized by Messe München GmbH partnership with the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE as well as with FWTM - Freiburg, Wirtschaft, Touristik und Messe GmbH. This new series of conferences consists of annual events that will give participants a look at the latest scientific findings and their commercial implementation and use in the sector for renewable and efficient energy use. It is an outstanding international platform for the transfer of know-how between researchers, industry representatives and politicians.
 
 
 
Organizers:
 
Messe München GmbH
Messegelände
81823 München, Deutschland 
Kontakt: Theresia Strehler
Tel. (+49 89) 9 49 - 2 07 20
Fax (+49 89) 9 49 - 2 07 29
www.messe-muenchen.de
 
FWTM – Freiburg Wirtschaft Touristik und Messe GmbH
Rathausgasse 33
79098 Freiburg
Kontakt: Nicole Horstkötter
Telefon: +49(0)761/3881-01
Telefax: +49(0)761/37003
www.fwtm.freiburg.de
 
Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE
Heidenhofstr. 2
79110 Freiburg
Kontakt: Karin Schneider
Telefon +49 (0) 761 / 45 88 - 0
Fax   +49 (0) 761 / 45 88 – 9000
karin.schneider@ise.fraunhofer.de
www.ise.fraunhofer.de
 
 
About Messe München International (MMI)
Messe München International (MMI) is one of the world´s leading trade-fair companies. It organises around 40 trade fairs for capital and consumer goods, and key high-tech industries. Each year over 30,000 exhibitors from more than 100 countries, and over two million visitors from more than 200 countries take part in the events in Munich. In addition, MMI organises trade fairs in Asia, Russia, the Middle East and South America. With six subsidiaries abroad - in Europe and in Asia - and with 66 foreign representatives serving 89 countries, MMI has a truly global network.
 
Further information: www.messe-muenchen.de


Contact project management Messe München:
Theresia Strehler
Phone: (+49 89) 949 20545, Fax: (+49 89) 949 20549
Email: Theresia.Strehler@messe-muenchen.de
 
Press Contact:
Monica Felecan
Phone (+49 89) 949 20717, Fax: (+49 89) 949 20719
Email: monica.felecan@messe-muenchen.de