Oct 20 2008
International Solar Show 2008
Due to some unfortunate and extenuating circumstances for my co-worker, he was unable to attend the International Solar Show 2008 in San Diego last week. Since I’m the only other person heavily involved in multiple aspects of the day-to-day operations, my boss decided that it would be beneficial for me to attend the trade show. So, at 4 am, I woke up to catch my 6:30 am flight for a day at the show in San Diego. Matt was a good sport, being my chauffeur from the airport.
The show had several hundred booths and several thousand attendees. The high-level goal was to set-up some relationships with manufacturers of panels, inverters, and mounting hardware. The owners of the company had several meetings on the floor, and we had a meeting with our current supplier as well. My goal was to find some installers to partner with. Unfortunately, most of the booths were not staffed with installers. It was a good day for manufacturer relationships though 
Although, I received a nice compliment from our current supplier. The person that I work with on a regular basis told his boss that he was very impressed with my work, so that was really cool.
There is some pretty interesting technology on the market. Thin film is the latest development, boasting increased efficiency, aesthetic qualities, and durability. Further, due to the nature of the material, it is easier to install than traditional panels. Several companies have come out with better flush-mount and roof-integrated technology, which means that the solar panels can be built directly into the roof. Most of the large companies had really elaborate booths, with life-size panel displays. One or two booths were 2-story, with seating areas above the display area. Several automation companies had booths with robots and working machines for demonstration. We’re all kids at heart… fascinated by the shining, moving objects:) I picked up a lot of material to help increase my knowledge of the industry, and we have already started to utilize some of the contacts from the show. I have found that I really enjoy tradeshows, and I would love to put together a booth for Solar Designs next year. We’ll see how things go in 2009, but I think the International Solar Show 2008 was a great experience for me and the company.