REPORT ON THE 11TH SNEC PV POWER EXPO

SNEC2017, with the exhibiting space reaching 180,000 square meters, attracted over 1,800 exhibitors and over 220,000 visits from 95 countries and regions

The 11^th SNEC PV POWER EXPO Successfully Held

The largest PV tradeshow in the world — SNEC 11th (2017) International Photovoltaic Power Generation Conference & Exhibition was successfully rounded off on April 21^st, 2017.

SNEC2017, with the exhibiting space reaching 180,000 square meters, attracted over 1,800 exhibitors and over 220,000 visits from 95 countries and regions. It is especially worth mentioning about an increase of the number of visitors from many developing countries such as India, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Myanmar, Brazil, Chile, Ghana, South Africa, Saudi Arab ia, Pakistan and etc. It is out of doubt that with the largest numbers of exhibitors and visits, richness of exhibits that covers all sections of the PV industry chain, as well as the largest coverage in PV industry, SNEC has developed to be one of the most promising and influential PV tradeshows worldwide. SNEC2017 has also become the most popular grand gathering with the largest spot trading amount and the most releases of new products and new technology among the past ten editions.

The variety of exhibit categories of SNEC 2017 is unprecedented. The exhibits cover the whole PV industry chain, including PV production equipments, materials, PV cells, PV application products and panels, PV power systems, intelligent control, real-time monitoring, whole-course tracking, storage and efficiency optimizing. Almost all the famous PV players are exhibiting at this tradeshow. Furthermore, new workshop will gather industrial experts and elites to discuss the solutions to the cost and clean supply problems of traditional energy, the increase of efficiency of energy or renewable energy utilization, and the balanced energy mix incorporating different traditional energy and renewable energy. It will also cover the topics of smart design, construction, operation and management of solar PV plants as well as the technology and prospect of energy “Internet” on the framework of smart grid.

Many SNEC exhibitors have increased booth size to over 300sqm, some even over 500sqm, including: GCL, Innovpower, Huawei, Sungrow and SINENG.

The SNEC conference contains following noteworthy topics and programs: Conference Opening & Plenary, Solar Leaders Dialogue, Global PV Financial Summit, Scientific Conference, Industry Workshop on Global PV Market – Outlook and Development Strategies, Industry Workshop on Distributed PV Technologies, Industry Workshop on “Top Runner” High Efficiency Solar Cells, Auxiliary Materials and Technologies Related, Symposium on PV Poverty Alleviation and PV Agriculture Application Technologies, Symposium on the Application of Graphene in PV Industry and Energy Storage Technologies, Symposium on “Internet+” Smart Energy and Smart O&M Technologies of PV Plants, etc.

On this occasion of the 11th anniversary, SNEC deeply appreciates the great supports of those solar players and experts. We sincerely welcome the renowned PV enterprises, experts and elites to gather at SNEC2017 to look into the PV market of China, Asia as well as the world, and to take the lead on industrial innovation from the industry perspective and through a problem solving approach.

Overview

• Approved by Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce [Ref. No. (2016)-XZ17-124], SNEC 11th (2017) International Photovoltaic Power Generation Conference & Exhibition [SNEC PV POWER EXPO] was initiated by Asian Photovoltaic Industry Association (APVIA), Chinese Renewable Energy Society (CRES), Chinese Renewable Energy Industries Association (CREIA), Shanghai Science & Technology Development and Exchange Center (SSTDEC), Shanghai Federation of Economic Organizations (SFEO), Shanghai New Energy Industry Association (SNEIA), and was jointly organized by Global Solar Council (GSC), Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), Japan Photovoltaic Energy Association (JPEA), Asia Pacific Photovoltaic Industry Council (APPIC), New Energy Industry Association for Asia and the Pacific (NEIAAP), China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products (CCCME), Chinese Renewable Energy Industries Committee (CREIC), China Photovoltaic Society (CPVS), Taiwan Photovoltaic Industry Association (TPVIA), Korea Photovoltaic Industry Association (KOPIA),etc.

• SNEC has seen over 1,800 exhibitors, 180,000 sq. meter exhibition space and 222,839 visits this year. Photovoltaic companies from 95 countries and regions such as Germany, UK, France, USA, Canada, Japan, Austria, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Spain, Singapore, Taiwan, etc. gathered in Shanghai for this grand occasion. 30% of the exhibitors were from overseas. The exhibiting products covered the whole PV industry chain, including PV production equipment, materials, cells, applications & modules, PV projects and systems.

Key Figures

• Data on Exhibitors

——Number of the exhibitors: 1,800+

——Number of countries/regions originated: 95

——Foreign exhibitors and representatives: 30%

——Total exhibition space (sqm): 180,000

• Data on Visits

——April 19: 90,359

——April 20: 90,176

——April 21: 42,304

——Total: 222,839

——Number of countries/regions originated: 95

• Previous Data

Conference Opening and Keynote Speakers

Highlights and Achievements

• Global Solar Associations Meeting successfully held

The Global Solar Associations Meeting, with the theme of “Only One Earth”, took place on Monday 17 April in the frame of the SNEC 2017 in Shanghai, China. The meeting is co-hosted by Global Solar Council (GSC) and Asian Photovoltaic Industry Association (APVIA), aiming to call for holding the increase in the global average temperature to below 2˚C above pre-industrial levels and further to 1.5˚C above pre-industrial levels as pledged by the Paris Agreement.

Mr Dinghuan Shi, former Chairman of Chinese Renewable Energy Society (CRES), Mr Gongshan Zhu, Chair-elect of GSC and Chairman of Asian Photovoltaic Industry Association (APVIA), Mr Bruce Douglas, Chairman of GSC and COO of SolarPower Europe, Mr Jifan Gao, Co-Chairman of GSC and Chairman of China PV Industry Association (CPIA), Mr Gianni Chianetta, Co-Chairman of GSC and Head of International Affairs of Italian Solar Industry Association (Italia Solare), Mr Pranav Mehta, Co-Chairman of GSC and Chairman of National Solar Energy Federation of India (NSEFI), Mr Steve Blume, President of Australian Solar Council, Prof David Renne, President of International Solar Energy Society, Mr Baoshan Li, Secretary General of Chinese Renewable Energy Society (CRES), Prof Yuwen Zhao, Honorary Chairman of China Photovoltaic Society (CPVS), Mr Edwin Khew, Chairman of Sustainable Energy Association of Singapore (SEAS), Dr Peng Heng Chang, Chairman of Taiwan PV Industry Association (Chinese Taipei), Mr Bryan Ekus, SOLARUNITED, Dr Sulaiman Shaari and Mr K. K. Kong, Vice Presidents of Malaysian Photovoltaic Industry Association (MPIA), Dr Rodrigo Sauaia, CEO of Brazilian Photovoltaic Solar Energy Association (ABSOLAR), Ms Claire MY Lee, Director of Philippine Solar Power Alliance, Mr Karel De Winter, International Development Director of Middle East Solar Industry Association (MESIA), and APVIA Executive Committee Chairman member, Mr Baixing Wang, Chairman of Suzhou Talesun Solar Technologies Co., Ltd., APVIA Executive Committee Vice-Chairman members, Mr Shuangquan He, President of Wuxi Suntech Power Co., Ltd., Mr Yingchun Wang, President of ZNSHINE PV-TECH CO., LTD, Mr Jianwei Lin, Chairman of Jolywood (Suzhou) Sunwatt Co., Ltd., Mr Yong Zhang, General Manager of SMA China, Mr Yanhu Zhang, Marketing Director of Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd., etc.

(Global Solar Associations Meeting)

• International Green Energy (Shanghai) Scientific Innovation Center

For promoting the global collaboration of green energy industry, the Unveiling Ceremony of International Green Energy (Shanghai) Scientific Innovation Center, which is initiated by the Asian Photovoltaic Industry Association (APVIA), was held on April 17th, 2017. Mr Ou HUANG, Deputy Director of Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization, Mr Dinghuan SHI, former Counsellor of the State, Mr Gongshan ZHU, Chairman of Asian Photovoltaic Industry Association (APVIA), and Prof Martin GREEN from University of New South Wales (UNSW) unveiled the nameplate of the Innovation Center. GCL Intelligent Energy Co., Ltd., Shanghai Aviation Industrial (Group) Co., Ltd., Suzhou Talesun Solar Technologies Co., Ltd., Changzhou Trina Solar Energy Co., Ltd., Canadian Solar Inc., GCL System Integration Technology Co., Ltd., Far East Smarter Energy Co., Ltd. and Mi Lin Software Technology Co., Ltd. jointly participate in the preparation.

Through the three platforms of Financing, Technical Supporting and Technical Transfer, the Innovation Center is designed to provide the general services of technical consulting, assessment and transfer, trading and cultivation, as well as technology import and export for green energy. The Center plans to set up in Shanghai of China, Silicon Valley of the US and Singapore, forming a layout of global green energy industry chain via the policy and financial advantages of Shanghai, the technical advantages of Silicon Valley, and geographic advantages of Singapore.

(Unveiling and Signing Ceremony of the Innovation Center)

• 3rd “APVIA Awards”

The Asia Photovoltaic Awards named “APVIA Awards”, held every two years, is to recognize organizations and individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the photovoltaic industry through achievements in the areas of capability development or innovation. The APVIA Awards is presented in five categories – Industry, Technology, Education, Finance and Application. These five categories provide opportunities to honor established and emerging companies, research institutes, professionals, entrepreneurs and individuals across the entire photovoltaic industry, including power utilities, photovoltaic sectors as well as the merging sectors of energy efficiency, clean and renewable energy. This year, 35 organizations and individuals won the awards.

• SNEC 2017 Scientific Conference — discuss the cutting-edge technology and development of solar energy and PV together in 9 splendid sessions

The Scientific Conference provides an excellent platform for the world’s PV experts and scientists to showcase and share the latest developments in solar energy technologies. The world’s top PV scientists along with CTOs from leading PV companies join the International Scientific Committee. The Conference introduces and shares a wide scope of PV technologies, ranging from silicon feedstock, PV materials, cells, modules, systems and quality assurance to smart grid technologies.

SNEC 2017 Scientific Conference was held on April 18th and 19th, consisting of 9 sessions, where nearly a hundred top experts shared the cutting-edge technologies and research findings with attendees via oral presentations, poster presentations, or panel discussion. The speakers not only included the scientists from the well-known universities or research institutes worldwide such as University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Australia, Fraunhofer ISE in Germany, ECN, ISC Konstanz, IMEC, CEA INES, Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS), Institute of Semiconductors of Chinese Academy of Science, Zhejiang University, etc., but also gathered the CTOs and technical experts from the leading solar companies such as Trina, GCL, SCI, JinkoSolar, YINGLI, JA Solar, Sungrow, Singulus, SCHMID, Robert Bürkle, Meyer Burger, RENA, DuPont, Heraeus, TÜV NORD, TÜV Rheinland, and so on. 

• Global PV Financial Summit – Dialogue between new energy and internet financing

The renewable energy market in Asia has demonstrated remarkable growth over the past few years. However, many challenges remain to be overcome, in order to catalyze the next stage of growth. The dynamic development of the energy sector calls for the utilization of effective supporting mechanisms that address the unique conditions of each market. The Global PV Financial Summit will bring together senior experts and stakeholders from the PV sector to tackle these topics and more. Last year’s event also introduced a new track that addressed the confluence of 3 major trends: finance, renewable energy, and the internet. This track shall return once again to delve deeper into the opportunities and challenges for these exciting developments.

The global financial summit consisted of 13 topic speeches presented by VDE, GCL Financial Holding Limited, China Development Bank, China Merchants New Energy Group Limited, China Minsheng Xinguang Co., Ltd., Munich Re, Fraunhofer ISE, Energy Research Institute of National Development & Reform Commission, Envision Energy Co., Ltd., GCL New Energy Holdings Limited, Uper Energy, etc., and 4 panel discussions and a joint wrap-up session between financing and academic. We also had important guests from banks and financial institutes such as China Development Bank, The Export-Import Bank of China, China Export & Credit Insurance Corporation, Bank of China and China Merchants Bank. The speakers who make presentations and take part in discussion all share many innovative ideas, rich experience, valuable personal experiences with their open-mindedness, broad horizon and abundant knowledge, giving the attendees lots of enlightenment.

• 1st Symposium on PV Poverty Alleviation and PV Agriculture Application Technologies and Agricultural Photovoltaic Design & Engineering Competition

PV poverty alleviation and agricultural PV has become an important guideline on China’s supporting agricultural modernization, constructing socialistic new rural areas, improving peasants’ living quality. Many developed countries and developing countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America are also striving to encourage PV new energy’s application on agricultural production and peasants’ living in vast rural areas. To adapt to this new trend, SNEC 2017 launches a Symposium and an Agricultural Photovoltaic Design & Engineering Competition this year to define the topic of “Land and Energy”, aiming to create the complex dialogue between photovoltaic and agriculture.

Hundreds of domestic and foreign PV application experts gather together and discuss how to really and practically execute the Party Central Committee’s theory and method on PV Poverty alleviation and PV agriculture in order to make the revolutionary technology of PV and agriculture mutualism and one land with multi-industry all blossom. Mr. Jianxin Zhou, President of Jiangsu Talesun Power Technologies, Mr. Yaobang Zhang, Vice President of GCL Newenergy Holdings Limited, Mr. Dedong Cheng, Vice President of GCL Newerngy Holdings Limited, Dr. Erik Lou, Vice President of Trina Solar, Mr. Vincent Xia, Director and VP of Hollywood (Suzhou) Sunwatt Co.,Ltd., Mr. Xiaojun Liao, SMA China Development VP of SMA China, Mr. Jiansheng Mao, CTO of New Energy of Zhenfa New Energy Science & Technology Co., Ltd, Mr. Yingjie Dong, President of Zhejiang Guo Li Ying He Solar Company Limited, Ms. Lucy Lu, Marketing Director of GInlong (Ningbo) Technologies Co., Ltd., talks one after another, focusing on how to practice national outlines on pushing PV poverty alleviation policy, how to carry out the development and model innovation of precise PV poverty alleviation and how to solve the current problems of policy, land management, technology and standard. They also discuss how to develop “ecological stereo-agriculture”, which makes PV and modern agriculture combined more closely and tightly and introduce their success experience on how to fully take advantage of rural wide space and how to explore PV new market. Many foreign experts and entrepreneurs such as Mr. Deepak Gupta, Director General of National Solar Energy Federation of India, Mr. Knoche Ronald, Executive Director of REM TEC SRL, etc., deliver speeches on how to guide into the Chinese PV agricultural technology and how to import sustainable power production and simultaneous resolution with high efficiency to China.

• 2nd Symposium on the Application of Graphene in PV Industry and Energy Storage Technologies

Recently, “graphene”, as a kind of new two-dimensional material, has drawn great attention and gained breakthroughs in the aspects of fundamental research, technical R&D as well as mass production. Meanwhile, the energy storage technology and its application in the energy system and micro-system also make great progress. The three industries of photovoltaic, energy storage and graphene are coming into a cross connection within the energy restructuring worldwide.

This Symposium covers the discussions on the application of graphene technologies in the photovoltaic and energy storage sectors, aiming to promoting the cross connection, technical breakthroughs and industrial matchmaking among these three industries and pushing forward the new energy technologies via new materials. It invited experts and scholars from China Innovation Alliance of the Graphene Industry, China Energy Storage Alliance, Institute of Electrical Engineering of CAS, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Tsinghua University, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Northwest University, and entrepreneurs and technical professionals from Trina Solar, Sungrow-Samsung SDI, GCL System, ZNShine PV-Tech, Shenzhen Jiawei Photovoltaic Lighting Co., Ltd., GMCC Electronic Technology Wuxi Co., Ltd., TUNGHSU Group, etc.

• Symposium on “Internet+” Smart Energy and Smart O&M Technologies of PV Plants

Along with the continuous progress of global energy reforms, the industry structural adjustment urgently requires a portal for transformation and upgrading. The “Internet+” Smart Energy, or named Internet of Energy, becomes an important channel for achieving this transformation and upgrading as well as innovation and development, whereas technical breakthroughs on advanced energy storage and smart grid products and technologies will lay the foundations for accelerating the construction of energy “Internet”. This Workshop gathers industrial experts and elites to discuss on the solutions to the cost and clean supply problems of traditional energy, the increase of efficiency of energy or renewable energy utilization, and the balanced energy mix incorporating different traditional energy and renewable energy. It also covers the topics of smart design, construction, operation and management of solar PV plants as well as the technology and prospect of energy “Internet” on the framework of smart grid.

• Industry Workshop on Advanced PV Technologies — covers all aspects of PV application technology and manufacturing

As a traditional session of the SNEC PV Power Conference, the Industry Workshop on Advanced PV Technologies covers all the aspects of photovoltaic technology and manufacturing, including equipment/devices, materials, processes, manufacturing, integration, as well as emerging photovoltaic technologies and applications.

The Industry Workshop on Advanced PV Technologies consists of 3 sessions, the topics of which are Balance of System and Distributed PV Technologies, “Top Runner” High Efficiency Solar Cells, Auxiliary Materials and Technologies Related and PV Production Technology and includes over 60 presentations. It is an opportunity that you cannot miss to stay up to date on the technology and market, present your results to the community and network with colleagues.

• The Joint Media Interview held in Media Centers

The Media Centers, which have been set up during the past three editions, have proved themselves as excellent platforms for enterprise promotion and communication bridges between the enterprises and the media. To improve the quality of interview, SNEC Organizing Committee organized a media team consisting of hundreds of media from home and abroad as well as a Joint Media Committee with more than ten industry mainstream media, invited persons in charge of the exhibiting enterprises as guests and employed professional videographers to record throughout the interview. This event is an important domestic attempt on the combination of exhibition and media promotion, and undoubtedly can greatly improve the added-value of SNEC.

• SNEC2017 “Top 10 Highlights” Awards

To help exhibitors achieve best effects from the show and distinguish the most advanced technologies and products from others, it’s the sixth time for SNEC Organizing Committee to present “Top 10 Highlights” Awards, which has been welcomed and supported by the exhibitors and has become an indispensable highlight event for SNEC PV POWER EXPO.

The “Top 10 Highlights” Awarding Ceremony was held in E7 Exhibition Hall on April 21st. Having prepared for over 4 months, more than 100 exhibits are showcased in the expo. There are four categories of awards — Terawatt Diamond Award, Gigawatt Gold Award, Megawatt Jadeite Award and Honorary Award. After a fierce competition and strict evaluation by professional judges, some companies participating in this activity received their own trophies and certificates which not only stand for honor, but also means that their excellent exhibits were highly spoken of by professional visitors.

Having been hosted for many editions, the selection has been widely recognized and well received and has become a major stage for showcasing new products and technology in the sector.