Solar Power 2007 Preview

Long Beach hosts America's largest Solar Energy event next week

The Solar Power 2007 Conference and Expo kicks off next week in Long Beach, California, from September 24 to 27, 2007, at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center, a Solar Powered Venue. Created in 2004 via a partnership between the Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), this year’s business to business Solar Power Conference and Expo features over 200 exhibitors, 125 speakers, and expects a record 10,000 attendees.

While there are Training and Workshops over the weekend, Solar Power 2007 activities begin to ramp Monday morning, September 24, 2007, with more workshops and a sold out Local Solar Installations Tour followed by the Opening Reception. The Conference and Expo run from Tuesday through Thursday afternoon. The Opening Plenary Session features keynotes delivered by Ted Turner, Turner Enterprises, and Ray Lane, Managing Partner, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers.

Here are the one page Solar Power 2007 Schedule-at-a-Glance and the complete Detailed Agenda.

This year’s Agenda indulges the Solar side with two sessions on Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) and a session on Solar Hot Water Technology, but there are plenty of Solar Electric or Photovoltaic sessions. Vinod Khosla is not a scheduled speaker at this year’s event though he must be pleased with the CSP exposure.

Where in the world is Jesse Pichel you may ask? Jesse Pichel, Sr. Research Analyst, PiperJaffray, will present as part of the panel in the Investing in Solar Stocks: What You Need to Know session on Wednesday, September 26, 2007, from 2:00PM - 3:30PM in Room 202 at the Long Beach Convention Center.

Here is the Expo Exhibitor List and the Expo Hall floor plans:

Long Beach Convention Center Hall B
Hyatt Regency Beacon and Regency Ballrooms

but the Expo is not as daunting at this event – yet.

The Expo Halls are open to the public for free Tuesday evening, September 25, 2007, from 5:30PM to 8:30PM without preregistration, and three free seminars will be also held for the public:

Solar Electricity 101
How to Find a Qualified Solar Installer
How to Find Your Dream Job in Solar

A list of the participating companies is also available for review.

Interested in attending? You can still register by Sunday, September 23, 2007, and save $100 on your conference registration (see Registration Information).

If you cannot attend, a webcast of keynote speeches and interviews from the show floor of Solar Power 2007 is available courtesy of sponsor Fat Spaniel Technologies Inc. Last year’s Solar Power 2006 keynote speakers and industry interviews can still be viewed in this Webcast Archive.

I’ll see you at V2O - The Ten Million Dollar Nightclub (81 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA USA) for the Opening Reception on Monday, September 24, 2007, from 7:00PM to 9:00PM. Let’s do some serious Solar Power networking.