Global demand for photovoltaic systems is rising sharply. CIGS thin-film modules have become a hot topic for the solar industry. International experts will convene in Stuttgart on May 30, 2017, at the annual IW-CIGSTech workshop to discuss past and potential future technical and industrial advances in this solar technology. The Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research (ZSW) and the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie (HZB) are hosting the eighth installment of this workshop, which caters to scientists, engineers and industry specialists.

This year's gathering will take place in the ZSW institute's new building in Stuttgart-Vaihingen. Its timing is opportune: After the workshop, participants can conveniently head over to Munich for the Intersolar Eu-rope expo, which opens on the following day. 

Solar power systems with 75 gigawatts capacity were installed world-wide in 2016. That is an increase of 50 percent over the previous year's figure. Analysts expect the global market to grow by around 100 gigawatts annually in the years ahead. These are exciting times indeed for the photovoltaics sector. Remarkable strides have been made, especially with thin-film technology featuring a semiconductor made of copper, indium, gallium and selenium (CIGS). Efficiency is rising fast, and manufacturing costs are dropping. CIGS technology has now at-tained a level of maturity that merits large investments, and major module and equipment manufacturers are stepping up their funding for projects in this field. 

Expertise in the latest tech IW-CIGSTech, an annual fixture on the solar calendar since 2010, is one of the leading international workshops devoted to CIGS thin-film technology. Speakers from the industry's banner companies and renowned scientists have agreed to appear at this year's event. An all-day affair, it offers an intriguing mix of topics at the crossroads of science, engineering and industrial applications. On the agenda are lectures, discussions and poster presentations. In the evening, attendees can network with their peers at a meet-and-greet in the new ZSW premises.

CIGS | www.iw-cigstech.org