Model of the First Solar Powered Aircraft makes Forum for South-East Europe a Successful Business Mixture

Green Energy and Waste Management Forum's last edition was held between 28-30 March 2012 in Sofia, Bulgaria and incorporated: SEE Solar (Solar PV & Thermal Exhibition), EE and RE (Exhibition and Congress on Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy) and 'Save the Planet' (Conference and Exhibition on Waste Management, Recycling & Environment).

Despite the difficulties in these sectors, the organiser's reported 20% growth in the number of exhibitors. ‘Impressive was the share of the foreign companies - over 60% of the participants. This fact confirms that the South-East Europen region is an attractive market for investors.’ - says Maya Kristeva, CEO of Via Expo.

Visitors had the opportunity to see the latest products, provided by 412 direct and represented exhibitors from 33 countries in 4 halls.

Ivo Duerr from the International Trade Show Agency, Vienna, organiser of the Austrian Pavilion, is plannig a wider participation in 2013 and gave a positive feedback: 'Our exhibitors from the Austrian Pavilion were all in all very satisfied with the show. EE & RE and 'Save the Planet' are - no doubt - the most important platforms for the fields of renewable energy and environmental technology for the whole region, not only Bulgaria. Experts from the whole of Europe meet specialists from SEE and inform and discuss about solutions and latest technlogies to save energy and our environment. A very successful mixture'

REC Solar is a traditional exhibitor and Mrs. Kerstin Schmidt considered the Bulgarian market as a good target for the company, which has managed successfully the brand all over the world.

Undisputably the solar technologies were the hit. The model of the first aircraft powered by solar energy, "landed" in Bulgaria. The airplane ‘Solar Impulse’ will soon make a 48-hour flight of 2,500 km from Switzerland to Morocco. One of the cars of the future - Chevrolet Volt, powered 100% by electricity, attracted great interest. The only solar mobile traning laboratory on the Balkans was demonsrated by Mittelstandsbüro Balkan.

Delegates in the parallel Congress and Conference debated on the latest developments, problems and solutions related to green energy and environment. The accent in the program was the session, dedicated to waste-to-energy, organized by the European Suppliers of Waste to Energy Technology.

New initiatives within the event were: Seminar ‘American experience in RE and EE’, Austria Showcase 'Environmental Technologies' and European b2b Matchmaking Event in the Field of Waste Management, Recycling & Environment. The next event will take place in Sofia from 29 to 31 May 2013.