SAN DIEGO, March 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, organizers of the upcoming IEEE PV Specialists Conference, the industry's most respected global gathering of leading scientists and engineers, confirmed that First Solar, SunPower, HelioVolt and the Solar Energy Industry Association will keynote at the opening session of the conference. A new conference feature this year, the PV Velocity Forum, is taking place alongside the conference's main tracks. The Forum consists of a series of panels designed to connect leading PV scientists from around the world with policymakers and investors.

Please join us on May 11-16 in San Diego as the industry's best and brightest explore technological, legislative, and financial methods for driving superior emerging technologies through production and into the market.

Confirmed keynote speakers include: -- HelioVolt, Dr. B.J. Stanbery, CEO -- First Solar, Dr. David Eaglesham, VP of Technology -- Solar Energy Industries Association, Rhone Resch, President -- SunPower Corporation, Dr. Richard Swanson, Founder

Beginning on Wed., May 14, the PV Velocity Forum will engage technologists with the financial and regulatory communities to discuss the impact and interactions of project management, policy development and regulations on the development and adoption of new technologies. PV Velocity Forum panels will showcase the finest global R&D programs; examine the communications processes necessary to move technology through development and into production; and explore regulatory accounting, finance and rate issues in the E.U. and the U.S. through case studies and expert testimonials.

Conference attendees will also have an opportunity to meet with some of the top minds in the solar industry, including recent and past winners of the 2008 Cherry Award, one of the industry's most important awards honoring significant contributors to PV. Past winners include Dr. Martin A. Green, Dr. Ajeet Rohatgi, Dr. Antonio Luque, Dr. Richard Swanson, and Dr. Timothy Coutts, general chair of the PV Specialists Conference. This year's winner, Dr. Masafumi Yamaguchi of the Toyota Technological Institute, is being recognized for his outstanding contributions to the development of high-efficiency multijunction solar cells, and for serving as one of the world leaders of the development of PV and a major driving force for international co-operation.

The PV Specialists Conference is sponsored by the Electron Devices Society of the IEEE, a leading authority on areas ranging from aerospace systems, computers and telecommunications to biomedical engineering, electric power and consumer electronics, among others.

Members of the media can register for free here: http://www.33pvsc.org/public/index.php?ijejifeijfeijfwf=j234134134ewjffo... ijweoigjwoiejgwe&page=website_login&show_menu=yes

For more information on the conference, please visit: http://www.33pvsc.org/public/

For more information on the PV Velocity Forum, please visit: http://www.33pvsc.org/public/index.php?ijejifeijfeijfwf=j234134134ewjffo... ijweoigjwoiejgwe&page=website_technology_forum&show_menu=yes

For more information on the Cherry Award, please visit: http://www.33pvsc.org/public/index.php?ijejifeijfeijfwf=j234134134ewjffo... ijweoigjwoiejgwe&page=website_awards&show_menu=yes

CONTACT: Lonnie Shekhtman of Antenna Group, +1-415-977-1917,
Lonnie@antennagroup.com, for PV Technology Forum

Web site: http://www.33pvsc.org/public