The World's Largest Exhibition for the Solar Industry Presents the "ISOL Navigator"

Munich, May 25, 2011. The 2011 ISOL Navigator shines a light on current and future market developments in the field of solar thermal technology across 16 key countries from all corners of the globe. The study, conducted by the agency solrico from Bielefeld, Germany, examines both opportunities for and barriers to market growth based on responses from 300 solar heating system manufacturers and providers. In cooperation with Intersolar Europe, the ISOL Navigator is being presented at the exhibition press conference on Wednesday, June 8 at 3:00pm, at the International Guest Reception Center West. There will also be a presentation on the study - "ISOL Business Index: International Solar Thermal Market Development and Outlook" - as part of the Intersolar Europe Conference opening session on the field of "Solar Thermal Technology".

Solar heating is being successfully implemented on an international scale in diverse areas of application including hot water production, space heating, process heat, air-conditioning and water processing. The long-term potential, in the EU for example, is also huge: According to a study entitled "The Potential of Solar Thermal Technology in Europe", the European Solar Thermal Industry Federation (ESTIF) considers an annual growth rate of 26% possible by 2020 given optimal conditions. This growth would also have a significant impact on the employment market, with an estimated total of 470,000 full-time positions being created in solar thermal technology by 2020.

Furthermore, national markets are evolving very differently across the globe. In some European countries - such as Germany, Italy, Spain and Austria - demand has fallen in the past two years, whereas many key countries outside Europe are booming - such as China, Brazil and India.

ISOL Navigator - developments in the international solar thermal industry
The various opportunities for and barriers to growth in the international solar thermal technology industry form a key part of the 80-page ISOL Navigator study. Using selected European and non-European countries, the study analyzes the background to market development and presents the current mood in the international industry. Furthermore, the study provides an outlook on market development over the next six months. The ISOL Navigator covers 16 countries in total: Brazil, China, Germany, Greece, Great Britain, India, Italy, Mexico, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Switzerland, Spain, the Czech Republic, Turkey and the USA.

The ISOL Navigator is based on the ISOL international business climate index, which serves as an indicator for national, regional and sector market development in the solar thermal technology industry. It is the only international business climate index for the solar heating industry and is published twice a year in June and December by the agency solrico from Bielefeld. The study is based on a survey of 300 solar heating system manufacturers and providers from around the world.

Study unveiled at Intersolar Europe
The ISOL Navigator is being presented at Intersolar Europe in Munich, the world's largest exhibition for the solar industry. As part of the press conference entitled "ISOL Navigator - a compass through the global solar heating and cooling sector", media representatives will gain a first insight into the study. The press conference is taking place on Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 3:00pm at the International Guest Reception Center West. The ISOL index is also being introduced in the presentation "ISOL Business Index: international solar thermal market development and outlook" as part of the Intersolar Europe Conference opening session on the subject of solar thermal technology on June 7, a day ahead of the exhibition itself.

Munich welcomes the international solar industry
From June 8-10, 2011 the international solar industry convenes at the New Munich Trade Fair Centre for Intersolar Europe 2011. The world's largest exhibition for the solar industry features 2,200 national and international exhibitors presenting their products and services across 165,000 square meters of exhibition space, spanning 15 exhibition halls and an outdoor exhibition area. Over 75,000 national and international visitors will find out about the latest products and services in the fields of photovoltaics, PV production technology and solar thermal technology. From June 6-10, an array of sessions, presentations and workshops at the Intersolar Europe Conference offer visitors the opportunity to get to grips with the exhibition topics and to engage in discussion with international experts. The conference runs for two days prior to and during the exhibition itself.

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

For more information about the Intersolar Europe Conference, 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
With over 3,000 exhibitors and more than 100,000 visitors spanning three continents, Intersolar is the world's leading exhibition series for the solar industry. Intersolar Europe takes place annually at the New Munich Trade Fair Centre. 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 shed light on the background behind technological, market and political developments.

In addition to Intersolar Europe, Intersolar North America in San Francisco was launched in 2008. This was followed by Intersolar India in 2009, which has been held in Mumbai since 2010. From 2011, Intersolar China in Peking 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 and India are organized by the international subsidiaries Solar Promotion International GmbH, Pforzheim, and Freiburg Management und Marketing International GmbH (FMMI). Intersolar China is organized by Solar Promotion International GmbH and FMMI in cooperation with MMI Asia.

About solrico:
solrico - solar market research & international communication - is a German agency specializing in market research and reports on the solar thermal technology market. The company's founder, Bärbel Epp, has been writing about solar heating for fourteen years. solrico works with independent experts in the field of solar thermal technology across four continents. For more information, please visit www.solrico.com.