[:en]Global demand for photovoltaic systems is rising sharply. CIGS thin-film modules have become a hot topic for the solar industry. International experts will convene in Stuttgart on May 30, 2017, at the annual IW-CIGSTech workshop to discuss past and potential future technical and industrial advances in this solar technology. The Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research (ZSW) and the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie (HZB) are hosting the eighth installment of this workshop, which caters to scientists, engineers and industry specialists.
The agenda and registration form are posted at www.iw-cigstech.org. This year’s gathering will take place in the ZSW institute’s new building in Stuttgart-Vaihingen. Its timing is opportune: After the workshop, participants can conveniently head over to Munich for the Intersolar Europe expo, which opens on the following day.
Solar power systems with 75 gigawatts capacity were installed worldwide in 2016. That is an increase of 50 percent over the previous year’s figure. Analysts expect the global market to grow by around 100 gigawatts annually in the years ahead. These are exciting times indeed for the photovoltaics sector. Remarkable strides have been made, especially with thin-film technology featuring a semiconductor made of copper, indium, gallium and selenium (CIGS). Efficiency is rising fast, and manufacturing costs are dropping. CIGS technology has now attained a level of maturity that merits large investments, and major module and equipment manufacturers are stepping up their funding for projects in this field.
Expertise in the latest tech
IW-CIGSTech, an annual fixture on the solar calendar since 2010, is one of the leading international workshops devoted to CIGS thin-film technology. Speakers from the industry’s banner companies and renowned scientists have agreed to appear at this year’s event. An all-day affair, it offers an intriguing mix of topics at the crossroads of science, engineering and industrial applications. On the agenda are lectures, discussions and poster presentations. In the evening, attendees can network with their peers at a meet-and-greet in the new ZSW premises.
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Event: IW-CIGS-Tech 8
Subject: Advances in CIGS thin-film photovoltaics
Date: May 30, 2017, 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM;
evening meet-and-greet event to follow
Place: ZSW, Meitnerstraße 1, 70563 Stuttgart, Germany
Agenda / registration: www.iw-cigstech.org
Target audience: Representatives of companies and research institutes
Organizer: ZSW and HZB
Fee: €150 plus VAT (catering and meet-and-greet event included)
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The Zentrum für Sonnenenergie- und Wasserstoff-Forschung Baden-Württemberg (Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg, ZSW) is one of the leading institutes for applied research in the areas of photovoltaics, renewable fuels, battery technology, fuel cells and energy system analysis. There are currently around 230 scientists, engineers and technicians employed at ZSW’s three locations in Stuttgart, Ulm and Widderstall. In addition, there are 90 research and student assistants.
HZB is a research centre for energy materials research. Research topics are thin film materials for solar cells, solar fuels and complex materials for energy efficient future information technology integrating excellent research with the operation of dedicated infrastructures – like the photon source BESSY II and its upgrade BESSY VSR (Variable Pulse Length Storage Ring), dedicated CoreLabs and Joint Labs with universities.
Media contacts
Claudia Brusdeylins, Zentrum für Sonnenenergie- und
Wasserstoff-Forschung Baden-Württemberg (ZSW), Meitnerstr. 1,
70563 Stuttgart, Tel. +49 (0)711 7870-278, Fax +49 (0)711 7870-230,
claudia.brusdeylins@zsw-bw.de, www.zsw-bw.de
Dr. Ina Helms, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie (HZB),
Hahn-Meitner-Platz 1, 14109 Berlin, Tel. +49 (0)30 / 8062-
42034 oder -14626, Fax +49 (0)30 8062-42181,
ina.helms@helmholtz-berlin.de, www.helmholtz-berlin.de
Axel Vartmann, PR-Agentur Solar Consulting GmbH,
Emmy-Noether-Str. 2, 79110 Freiburg,
Tel.: +49 (0)761 380968-23, Fax: +49 (0)761 380968-11,
vartmann@solar-consulting.de, www.solar-consulting.de[:]