The winners are announced as part of an official ceremony on June 19, 2013 at Intersolar Europe in Munich.

Munich, February 4, 2013 – Intersolar Europe presents the Intersolar AWARD for the sixth year running to celebrate particularly innovative solutions in the categories Photovoltaics, Solar Thermal Technologies and PV Production Technologies.

At Intersolar Europe next year, the distinguished innovation prize is also awarded in the debuting category Solar Projects in Europe, which honors projects under the topics Photovoltaics and Energy Storage, Industrial and Commercial Use of Photovoltaics, as well as Solar Thermal Applications that have set a particularly inspiring example in driving forward the energy revolution. Companies wanting to apply for the Intersolar AWARD may submit their documents from February 1 to March 28.

The Intersolar AWARD in the new category Solar
Projects was already presented in 2012 at Intersolar North America for Solar Projects in North America and at Intersolar India for Solar Projects in India.

At Intersolar Europe 2013, the award is also being given for the first time in the category Solar Projects in Europe, in addition to the existing categories Photovoltaics, Solar Thermal Technologies and PV Production Technologies. The accolade shines the spot light on outstanding services and products that not only present a particular benefit to society and the environment, but also offer economic advantages and a high level of technical innovation. The winners are announced as part of an official ceremony on June 19, 2013 at Intersolar Europe in Munich.

Future issues affecting the solar energy supply

Rising electricity and heating costs are making both businesses and private households ever more keen to take their energy supply into their own hands. Photovoltaics is becoming ever less expensive, increasingly presenting itself as an economically viable and, above all, reliable alternative to conventionally generated electricity. It therefore pays for many business and private households to invest in their own system and consume solar energy generated on site. At the same times, projects aimed at increasing the consumption of solar energy generated on site contribute to stabilizing the existing grid infrastructure. But it's not just using solar power that holds enormous potential, so too does heat generation using process heat from solar thermal power plants. Until now, solar thermal technologies in Germany supplies hot water primarily to private households. Solar thermal technologies can however also be used for many applications in commercial and industrial operations, such as manufacturing processes in the food and chemical industry or textile sector. As the world's leading exhibition series for the solar industry, Intersolar has therefore introduced the new category Solar Projects for exemplary projects in this up-and-coming area.

New category Solar Projects in Europe

Projects from three different topics can be submitted. The topic Photovoltaics and Energy Storage is aimed at projects that increase on-site energy consumption in single and multi-family dwellings through the use of new storage technologies. Under the topic Industrial and Commercial Use of Photovoltaics, projects are sought that lead the way in showing how photovoltaics can be used in industrial production and supplying commercial buildings. The third topic Industrial and commercial use of Solar Thermal Applications involves projects that stand out thanks to highly innovative applications using solar thermal power plants in commerce and industry.

Participation conditions for the Intersolar AWARD 2013

For applications to be valid, projects must be fully completed and no older than two years at the time the application for the award is submitted. To get short listed, applicants must demonstrate that the project centers on a groundbreaking and unique solution. The jury also bases its decision on how the project can benefit society and the environment, as well as the resulting economic benefits and level of technical innovation.

The award is open to all exhibitors of global Intersolar events in 2013 as well as exhibitors from Intersolar India 2012. Companies wanting to apply for the Intersolar AWARD can find more information at www.intersolarglobal.com/award. All applications must be submitted between February 1 and March 28, 2013.

Intersolar Europe 2013 takes place from June 19–21 at Messe München.

Further information on Intersolar Europe can be found at www.intersolar.de

About Intersolar
With around 3,000 exhibitors and 100,000 visitors spanning four continents, Intersolar is the world's leading exhibition series for the solar industry.
Intersolar Europe takes place annually at Messe München. Today, it is the world's largest exhibition for the solar industry. In 2012, 1,909 international exhibitors and 66,000 trade visitors were welcomed to Intersolar Europe. The exhibition focuses on the areas of photovoltaics, PV production technologies and solar thermal technologies. Since its foundation, it has become established as the most important industry platform for manufacturers, suppliers, distributors and service providers. The accompanying Intersolar Europe Conference consolidates the topics of the exhibition. In 2012, more than 400 speakers and around 2,000 attendees discussed current industry topics and investigated the background of technological, market and political developments.

Intersolar's storied history of international exhibitions and conferences spans more than 20 years. In 2008, Intersolar North America in San Francisco became the second exhibition after Intersolar Europe. This was followed by Intersolar India in Mumbai, Intersolar China in Beijing and the Intersolar South America in São Paulo.
Intersolar Europe is organized by Solar Promotion GmbH, Pforzheim, and Freiburg Wirtschaft Touristik und Messe GmbH & Co. KG.