GTM Research exec Shayle Kann to address attendees June 16-24 in Tampa

TAMPA - The IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC) planning committee today announced its selection of a keynote speaker for the conference's 39th meeting, to be held June 16-24 in Tampa, Fla. Shayle Kann, Vice President of Research for Greentech Media, will set the stage for the week-long technical conference and exhibition.

Since 1961, the IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference has served as a global meeting place for the industry's brightest minds to discuss the latest research, developments and trends in the sector.

"The IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference is the longest-standing, premier gathering of technical minds in PV research," said Kann. "There is still much room for progress in improving PV efficiency and lowering costs, and the PVSC brings together those on the cutting edge of these innovations."

The PVSC's highly respected technical conference will begin Monday, June 16, with Kann's keynote address on how the transition to a competitive, democratized solar market will change the landscape for electricity generation across the U.S. For its 2013 event, the PVSC program committee combed through more than 1,000 abstracts to select speakers across 11 technical areas, including crystalline silicon PV, thin film technologies and both terrestrial and space-based applications. New to the 39th IEEE PVSC is the Reliability of PV area, led by Dr. Sarah Kurtz, Principal Scientist for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and 2012 winner of the PVSC's prestigious Cherry Award.

In addition to a robust conference, the 39th IEEE PVSC will feature a lively exhibition hall, including nearly 600 technical poster presentations and displays from the industry's top research and engineering organizations.

The 39th IEEE PVSC will also see the continuation of the popular PV Jobs Portal, a resource to efficiently connect job seekers with prospective employers from the industry, academia and government sectors. Interested employers and job seekers are invited to post resumes and job listings to the site, and coordinate on-site interviews during the event.

"Our goal is not only to showcase the latest research and development initiatives across the PV sector, but also to facilitate meaningful connections and spur collaboration," said Dr. Ryne Raffaelle, Conference General Chair for the 39th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference. "We're looking forward to engaging with our colleagues in Tampa to tackle the toughest issues facing our industry and investigate the solutions that will drive PV forward for years to come."

Registration information for the 39th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference can be found at http://www.ieee-pvsc.org/PVSC39/pages/registration-information.php.

Follow the IEEE 39th PV Specialists Conference on Twitter @PVSC39. View highlights on Facebook at: Facebook.com/IEEEPVSC

About IEEE:
IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.) is the world's largest technical professional society. Dedicated to the advancement of technology, the IEEE publishes nearly one-third of the world's literature in electrical engineering, computer science and electronics, and has developed more than 1,500 industry standards. The organization annually sponsors more than 1,300 conferences worldwide. Additional information about the IEEE can be found at www.ieee.org.

Media Contact:
Kimberly Setliff
Antenna Group for 39th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference
415-977-1942
pvsc39@antennagroup.com