Harnessing the Sun

ANAHEIM—From all its corners, the recent Solar Power Intl. held in Anaheim was a success.

“Has anyone told you anything bad about the show yet?” asked exhibitor Ken Sexton, who does business development and marketing for Albion, Mich.-based Patriot Solar Group. “If they did, they were lying.”

The show, held Oct. 27-29 at the Anaheim Convention Center, was so strong for the company Sexton works for that he ranked it a nine out of 10.

“I told my boss we could have stopped after the first day,” he added.

It was the sixth year for the 2009 Tradeshow Week Fastest 50 winning show, which used to be called Solar Power Conference and Expo before being rebranded last year to reflect the growing international attendance.

Prior to the event, show officials estimated the size of the showfloor would total just more than 200,000 net square feet – more than double last year’s 88,100 net sq. ft. showfloor at the San Diego Convention Center. The number of exhibitors also was expected to increase to more than 900 from 407. In addition, more than 20,000 attendees were expected.

Final show figures were not available at press time.

When talking about the show being named one of the fastest-growing on TSW’s list – using data from the 2006, 2007 and 2008 shows – Michiel Glunt, exhibits and sponsorship manager for the Solar Electric Power Assn., which owns the show with the Solar Energy Industries Assn., said, “The best stroke of luck we had was when the Anaheim Convention Center had their entire convention center available for us to move our 2009 event, which enabled us to grow our exhibits ... and accommodate twice as many attendees in meeting rooms.”

It’s not just show management that’s grateful for the additional space and the growing popularity of the solar industry.

“This is one of the most viable industries,” said attendee Dave Rose, vice president of Albuquerque, N.M.-based Rio Grande Solar.

He added he was glad to see not only photovoltaic manufacturers, but also the other components to the industry, such as companies working to build roofs that last as long as a solar array.

But, Rose said, the partner companies joining the show’s exhibitor list is indicative of its continued growth in the future.

“This particular show is the one that’s the (leader),” he added.

Throughout the bustling showfloor, the big-name solar companies’ booths advertised their solar ventures, including Kyocera, which had a banner stating, “The proof is in the Prius,” a reference to its solar modules being engineered into the third-generation Toyota Prius.

At United Solar Ovonic’s booth, Cheryl Levitt, marketing communication specialist for the Rochester Hills, Mich.-based company, which makes photovoltaic laminates, also said the show was going well.

“It’s a great place (with) more and more international (attendees),” she added.

The company did cut back on booth personnel at the show, Levitt said, but the booth itself was expanded to a 40’x40’ this year. The company has exhibited at Solar Power Intl. since 2005, but also exhibits at other large solar shows, including Intersolar in Munich.

“So far, so good,” was the comment from Bill Li, senior sales manager of Shanghai-based ReneSola, which manufactures components inside solar cells, when asked how the show was going.

He said it was the first time ReneSola had exhibited at the show, but that the company was getting the leads officials wanted.

Over at the Quanzhou, China-based GS Solar booth, Michael Soon, vice president of marketing and strategic planning and sales and marketing, said he felt last year’s show was a little busier because a similar number of attendees were on less showfloor space.

“It feels a lot different because it’s less compacted,” he added.

However, Soon said the company was getting the same kinds of leads and meeting the right people. It was the company’s second straight year exhibiting at the show.