Frank Andorka, Senior Editor
By Frank Andorka, Senior Editor
For those of you attending Solar Power International (SPI), the team at Solar Energy Trade Shows (the company handling the show’s logistics, or SETS) compiled a list of what you need to know before arriving in Las Vegas:
- Before you travel to the show, schedule meetings with your current clients and colleagues.
- Be sure to leave time to make new friends and business contacts along the way.
- Review the schedule, make a plan, download the app, bring comfortable shoes and plenty of water. (As a 20-year trade show vet myself, I can’t emphasize the comfortable shoes part enough.)
- Keep your eyes open for new products and services. Many exhibitors launch new products at SPI because companies know they will be seen by thousands in just a few short days.
If you come for the Expo, stay for the educational sessions — you won’t be disappointed:
- Solar Central will host interviews, panels and more.
- Industry Trends will focus on — what else — the latest trends of the industry.
- PV Technical Training offers attendees the chance to earn NABCEP credits.
- Start-Up Alley hosts up-and-coming solar companies. Semi-finalist companies will all have slots on the show floor. Finalist companies will pitch their business plans to an esteemed panel of judges onsite.
Educational posters will take a look at research and projects happening within the industry in six different areas. A list of the more than 100 posters is available online.
To help attendees pinpoint the best educational programming for them, SETS (with input from show hosts SEIA and SEPA have organized concurrent sessions into the following tracks:
- Finance & Business
- Markets
- Utility & Grid Integration
- Policy & Regulation
- Technical
- Solar Heating & Cooling
- Concentrating Solar Power
- Energy Storage (SPI is also debuting the Energy Storage Pavilion on the show floor)
So how will you get to the Las Vegas Convention Center from your hotel? Don’t worry — it’s taken care of for you. SPI will have shuttles for those hotels not within walking distance of the convention center (which, admittedly, isn’t really close to anything). There are also SuperShuttle discounts for attendees to use when going to and from the airport.
Here is perhaps the best perk of attending SPI this year: Attendees receive discounts on a few shows in Las Vegas, restaurants, retail and even a high-rollers table. To make reservations ahead of time, go to the SPI website.
I hope this helps you get the most of SPI — and make sure you stop by the Solar Power World booth to say hello.