On September 25 and 26 2015, system integrator Phaesun GmbH from Memmingen invited to the fourth Off-Grid Experts Workshop in the festival hall of Memmingen together with co-organiser Steca Elektronik GmbH, the event partners SolarWorld and Morningstar, as well as 35 additional exhibitors from the renewable energies trade under the motto „The World speaks Off-Grid.
Roughly 450 guests particular from countries with a poorly developed electricity network from Africa, Latin America and the Middle East but also from Europe participated in the interactive workshop programme.
The Off-Grid power supply with renewable energies is in the focus of the Off-Grid Experts Workshop. Topics such as rural electrification, solar water supply, as well as applications in the industrial and leisure time sector were highlighted with 35 expert lectures. Apart from the lecture programme, the visitors could inform themselves at the booths of roughly 40 exhibitors about their companies and their product innovations and services. During additional interactive sessions such as the Energy Experts Café and the Running Discussion, the guests discussed the varied application possibilities of independent solar, wind, and hydropower systems. The workshop programme was extended by some items on the agenda this year. So the guests could set their hands to the installation of an individual Off-Grid system in a Hands On Studio. Moreover, the Speaker´s Corner provided the opportunity for the guests to present exotic subjects which went short on the big stage of the Off-Grid Forum. An entertaining supporting programme provided time and space for networking.
Platform for knowledge exchange on a high level
Tobias Zwirner, Managing Director of Phaesun GmbH reports: „The enhanced visitor interest since the first Off-Grid Experts Workshop in 2011 proves us right. The Off-Grid niche market is often given too little attention at major trade events. With the Off-Grid Experts Workshop, we have established a platform for manufacturers, users and further experts who discuss the complex and variegated sector of independent energy supply on a high level.”
Hydropower and wind power as additional energy sources
After the event had emphasised photovoltaics during the past years, this time also the potential of wind and hydropower was increasingly in the focus. Marius Weckel aroused great visitor interest for the hydropower turbines of his company Smart Hydro Power which are successfully used in South America and Africa. “If there is an appropriate water course available, the hydropower provides reliable energy for 24 hours a day”, he reports. Even the Start-Up enterprise LuvSide from Bavaria met with many active discussion partners who were surveying the vertical wind power systems with great interest. Tobias Zwirner comments this development as follows: „Off-Grid solar technology has more in common with Off-Grid water or wind power than with grid-connected solar technology.”
Complete solutions on the rise
The developments of complete kits for independent power supply attracted much attention. Due to the developments of LED-technology and the price cuts with solar panels, complete kits with a low output range, so called Pico PV kits became popular. They are now used in large quantities for the illumination of individual households in regions of Africa, Latin America and Asia with a poor infrastructure, as well as in the camping sector in Europe. This was reported on the one hand by manufacturers such as Sundaya and Enerplex, and on the other hand also by non-profit organisations and local traders who offer Pico PV kits successfully as a source of illumination and electricity.
Moreover, it was shown that complete kits are increasingly required also with a higher output range. Martin Hauck of Smart Energysystems increasingly offers complete systems. „We have started to install the electronics directly in the junction boxes adjusted to the required systems and sell them as complete solutions, so problems related to the selection of the appropriate electronics for the installation on site can be avoided“ he reports.
System monitoring becomes more important also with Off-Grid systems
Smart Energysystems also uses the electronics of the event partner Studer Innotec from Switzerland in their junction boxes. Eric Werfeli, head of sales with Studer remarks that the monitoring of Off-Grid solar systems has become more and more important. „Hybrid systems are more frequently installed with more than one energy source that supply important electrical consumers such as telecommunication stations. It is essential here to ensure that the system works smoothly while the operator often is many kilometres away from the site: Monitoring technologies become increasingly important!“
Off-Grid Experts Awards: Electrification in Africa in the focus of the winners
The Off-Grid Experts Awards celebration 2015 took place as a highlight at the end of the Off-Grid Experts Workshop on Saturday 26.09. in the historical ice cellar building in Memmingen this year. This competition that had been announced for the second time awarded extraordinary performances as well as particular impressions related to energy independence” in the four categories product, project, photo and filmlet. The Dutch organisation „Foundation for Rural Energy Services“ (FRES) proudly accepted the award for their extraordinary and extensive electrification project based on solar-hybrid-grids in two of the poorest regions of Mali
Please find more information on the Off-Grid Experts Workshop and the Off-Grid Experts Awards on the official website: http://www.off-grid-experts.com/...
Roughly 450 guests particular from countries with a poorly developed electricity network from Africa, Latin America and the Middle East but also from Europe participated in the interactive workshop programme.
The Off-Grid power supply with renewable energies is in the focus of the Off-Grid Experts Workshop. Topics such as rural electrification, solar water supply, as well as applications in the industrial and leisure time sector were highlighted with 35 expert lectures. Apart from the lecture programme, the visitors could inform themselves at the booths of roughly 40 exhibitors about their companies and their product innovations and services. During additional interactive sessions such as the Energy Experts Café and the Running Discussion, the guests discussed the varied application possibilities of independent solar, wind, and hydropower systems. The workshop programme was extended by some items on the agenda this year. So the guests could set their hands to the installation of an individual Off-Grid system in a Hands On Studio. Moreover, the Speaker´s Corner provided the opportunity for the guests to present exotic subjects which went short on the big stage of the Off-Grid Forum. An entertaining supporting programme provided time and space for networking.
Platform for knowledge exchange on a high level
Tobias Zwirner, Managing Director of Phaesun GmbH reports: „The enhanced visitor interest since the first Off-Grid Experts Workshop in 2011 proves us right. The Off-Grid niche market is often given too little attention at major trade events. With the Off-Grid Experts Workshop, we have established a platform for manufacturers, users and further experts who discuss the complex and variegated sector of independent energy supply on a high level.”
Hydropower and wind power as additional energy sources
After the event had emphasised photovoltaics during the past years, this time also the potential of wind and hydropower was increasingly in the focus. Marius Weckel aroused great visitor interest for the hydropower turbines of his company Smart Hydro Power which are successfully used in South America and Africa. “If there is an appropriate water course available, the hydropower provides reliable energy for 24 hours a day”, he reports. Even the Start-Up enterprise LuvSide from Bavaria met with many active discussion partners who were surveying the vertical wind power systems with great interest. Tobias Zwirner comments this development as follows: „Off-Grid solar technology has more in common with Off-Grid water or wind power than with grid-connected solar technology.”
Complete solutions on the rise
The developments of complete kits for independent power supply attracted much attention. Due to the developments of LED-technology and the price cuts with solar panels, complete kits with a low output range, so called Pico PV kits became popular. They are now used in large quantities for the illumination of individual households in regions of Africa, Latin America and Asia with a poor infrastructure, as well as in the camping sector in Europe. This was reported on the one hand by manufacturers such as Sundaya and Enerplex, and on the other hand also by non-profit organisations and local traders who offer Pico PV kits successfully as a source of illumination and electricity.
Moreover, it was shown that complete kits are increasingly required also with a higher output range. Martin Hauck of Smart Energysystems increasingly offers complete systems. „We have started to install the electronics directly in the junction boxes adjusted to the required systems and sell them as complete solutions, so problems related to the selection of the appropriate electronics for the installation on site can be avoided“ he reports.
System monitoring becomes more important also with Off-Grid systems
Smart Energysystems also uses the electronics of the event partner Studer Innotec from Switzerland in their junction boxes. Eric Werfeli, head of sales with Studer remarks that the monitoring of Off-Grid solar systems has become more and more important. „Hybrid systems are more frequently installed with more than one energy source that supply important electrical consumers such as telecommunication stations. It is essential here to ensure that the system works smoothly while the operator often is many kilometres away from the site: Monitoring technologies become increasingly important!“
Off-Grid Experts Awards: Electrification in Africa in the focus of the winners
The Off-Grid Experts Awards celebration 2015 took place as a highlight at the end of the Off-Grid Experts Workshop on Saturday 26.09. in the historical ice cellar building in Memmingen this year. This competition that had been announced for the second time awarded extraordinary performances as well as particular impressions related to energy independence” in the four categories product, project, photo and filmlet. The Dutch organisation „Foundation for Rural Energy Services“ (FRES) proudly accepted the award for their extraordinary and extensive electrification project based on solar-hybrid-grids in two of the poorest regions of Mali
Please find more information on the Off-Grid Experts Workshop and the Off-Grid Experts Awards on the official website: http://www.off-grid-experts.com/...
