The Energy Market Authority of Singapore (EMA) and the Asian Photovoltaic Industry Association (APVIA) today announced the addition of PV ASIA PACIFIC EXPO 2011, also known as APVIA (2011) PVAP EXPO, to the event line-up for the fourth annual Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW) that will take place from 31 October to 4 November 2011. The four-day solar expo which runs from 1 November to 4 November 2011 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center, Marina Bay Sands, will consist of an extensive exhibition running from the 2 to 4 November, as well as various programmes starting from the afternoon of the 1 November including keynote speeches by policy-makers, CEO Forum, Scientific Conference and Financial Dialogue with leading industry and scientific luminaries.

Key figures being invited include Suntech's Chairman and CEO Shi Zhengrong and Yingli's Chairman and CEO Miao Liansheng on the industry side. From the scientific community, Professor Joachim Luther, CEO of Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS), will be chairing the Scientific Conference component, while other invited speakers include University of New South Wales (UNSW)’s Professor Martin Green.

Spanning an expected 12,000 square metres, the exhibition will accommodate global exhibitors from all aspects of photovoltaic technology and manufacturing. This includes equipment devices, materials, processes, manufacturing, integration, as well as emerging photovoltaic technologies and applications.

Additionally, the conference will see public- and private-sector organisations in Asia Pacific's energy sector come together to share knowledge on the future of solar as a renewable energy source.

"The Scientific Conference and PV Asia Pacific Conference will complement the Expo in the field of innovation-oriented science and engineering," said Prof Luther, who will be chairing the conference. "With this conference, we aim to initiate annual PV conferences of international standing for the Asia-Pacific region. Excellent scientists will give lectures about (i) the present and future status of PV in Asia Pacific; (ii) innovation in PV for cost reduction; (iii) PV manufacture of the future and (iv) integration of high fractions of electricity from PV into grids.”

Said Chief Executive for EMA, Mr Chee Hong Tat: "The energy landscape is changing rapidly and the challenge facing the Asia-Pacific region is clearly finding energy options that are clean, economically competitive and reliable. There are no quick solutions, but by focusing on technological improvements, research and development, we will increase our chances of generating new energy solutions for a sustainable future. We are therefore very pleased to have PV ASIA PACIFIC EXPO as part of SIEW this year, and we hope the Expo will help to catalyse further investments in photovoltaic solar energy."

Mdm Mi Yue, Executive Vice Chairman of the Shanghai New Energy Industry Association, said: "With its unique location around the equator, the equatorial "sunbelt" countries in Asia Pacific are endowed with abundant solar energy, making them important markets for the solar PV market as PV companies from China and the world expand their operations. The addition of PV ASIA PACIFIC EXPO into SIEW underscores the importance and potential of the region's market, as well as Singapore's strategic location as a regional hub and its advantageous government policies in advancing industry developments."

PV ASIA PACIFIC EXPO 2011 marks the solar PV exhibition and conference's debut in Singapore. The Expo is organised by the Asian Photovoltaic Industry Association (APVIA), whose formation will be officially announced at SIEW 2011.