First Power

First Power-Gen Conference Proves a Success

by Jim Callihan, President & CEO, SolarAccess.com

"This is an idea that worked - and far exceeded our expectations."

- Michael Eckhart, President of ACORE

Las Vegas, Nevada - March 3, 2004 [SolarAccess.com] The first trade show in the United States to provide a venue for all renewable energy technologies, Power-Gen Renewable Energy, which ends today, was a resounding success according to the event's organizers - the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) and the PennWell Corporation, publishers of Power Engineering magazine.

"This is an idea that worked - and far exceeded our expectations", said Michael Eckhart, President of ACORE, the organization that conceived concept for the three-day event which drew nearly 1,000 conference and exhibit attendees with 69 exhibitors.

Two years in the making, Power-Gen Renewable Energy's key milestone toward success, according to Eckhart, was creating the partnership with PennWell , the exhibition's overall manager, to professionalize the concept and then implement an event with a goal of bringing together an exhibition of buyers and sellers of all renewable energy technologies.

The exhibition was complemented by a variety of more than 20 conference topics and workshops. In addition to the majority of U.S. exhibitors, there were two strong, government-backed pavilions from Great Britain and Germany seeking to create awareness of their participating companies exploring entry to the U.S. renewable energy market.

"Creating the optimal mix of end users and suppliers for a customer-oriented all-renewables trade show, has made this event a true success", said Eckhart. "In the most simple terms, the customers came and this is a joint venture (with PennWell) that worked."

Eckhart said the attendance at the event was balanced - one-third end users/buyers from utilities, large projects, governments and individuals; one-third suppliers of products and services from all renewable technologies; and one-third a broad mix of organizations, governments, media, finance consultants and others.

Richard Baker, PennWell's Global Energy Group Publisher, who partnered with ACORE for this Power-Gen Renewable Energy event and also the driver of Power-Gen International - the world's largest power event with over 20,000 attendees annually -- also echoed Eckhart's success formula. "We focused on bringing together buyers and sellers from all the market segments of this renewable energy power niche, so that people could do business", said Baker. "This event has well exceeded our expectations."

So much so, Baker has already reserved next year's venue in Las Vegas and is convinced that the second Power-Gen Renewable Energy will double in size.

Baker also said that the success of this all-renewables show, has encouraged him to create a special Renewable Energy Pavilion at the larger, all-encompassing Power-Gen International in November in Orlando.

Another important element of success, according to Eckhart, was the involvement and support of a strong contingent of the U.S. renewable energy trade associations. Following the opening day remarks of the event's keynote speaker, Admiral Richard H. Truly, Director of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory - U.S. Department of Energy, a full range of renewable energy technologies were represented in discussion by association Executive Directors from the National Hydropower Association, Geothermal Energy Association, New Uses Council, Solar Energy Industries Association, National Hydrogen Association, and Bio Fuels Association in a roundtable discussion led by ACORE Chairman Robert L. Pratt.

For Further Information:

• ACORE

• PennWell

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