This years Intersolar Europe was once again the world’s largest lead trade fair and conference in the solar industry. Over 1,800 exhibitors and more than 60,000 visitors attended the trade fair, a significant increase on last year.

The substantial interest shown by the media was also reflected at the press conference of Intersolar Europe, the German Solar Association BSW and EuPD Research. Over 100 journalists came to the exclusive launch of the first comprehensive "Market and Branch Analysis of Solar Thermal in Germany 2010" and the study "The German Photovoltaic Market 2010 - the Five Gigawatt Crisis" which took place immediately after the opening press conference. The results were presented in cooperation with Intersolar Europe and BSW.

According to the CEO of EuPD Research, Markus A.W. Hoehner, the German solar thermal market has shrunk by a third as a result of the budget freeze in May. The results of the "Market and Branch Analysis of Solar Thermal in Germany 2010" predict that the turnover of German companies will probably be less than a billion Euros this year. Should the market incentive program be continued, the market is not expected to recover until next year. More information can be found on the current study on the German and other important European solar thermal markets here.

An interview with Markus A.W. Hoehner on Intersolar TV can be watched here.

The first results of the study "The German Photovoltaic Market 2010 - the Five Gigawatt Crisis" were presented at the press conference. According to the study, German producers have to be prepared for increased competition from Asia and other regions. Asian producers already have a market share between 35 and 40 percent in Germany. Their market share in other European counties and around the rest of the world is even higher. Asian producers present themselves as cost effective manufacturers in mass production. They can produce their solar cells, on average, 20 percent cheaper than German producers. In the future, market players will have to create either a low price image or a strong brand image. The institute based in Bonn sees market consolidation in the photovoltaic branch as inevitable. Further information on the new study "The German Photovoltaic Market 2010" can be found here.