Advanced PV Technologies and Manufacturing

Wednesday, April 08, 2026

Time: 11:15 am - 12:45 pm
Hall: Dubai World Trade Centre
Room: Conference Area

Explore the latest advancements revolutionizing photovoltaic production. This session examines high-efficiency cell designs, next-generation materials, and automated manufacturing innovations that reduce costs and scale deployment. Gain insights into how technological progress is enhancing reliability, sustainability, and competitiveness in the rapidly evolving global solar energy market.

11:15 am - 11:20 amWelcome and Introduction

11:20 am - 11:40 amNext-Generation Back-Contact PV Modules: Performance Advances and Manufacturing Implications

Michael Heilig

CEO

SwissWatt One AG

11:40 am - 12:00 pmInnovative Hybrid Tandem PV for the Middle-East: Scaling Energy Yield Without Manufacturing Disruption

Vishwanathan Iyer

Managing Director - India and West Asia

Caelux Corporation

12:00 pm - 12:20 pmSpeech Title to be Confirmed

Dr. Hamed Hanifi

Technical Director Global

AESOLAR

12:20 pm - 12:45 pmQ&A Round

To Program Overview

Speakers

Speaker

Michael Heilig, SwissWatt One AG

CEO

Switzerland

Michael Heilig is the CEO of SwissWatt One AG, with 17 years in the PV industry and 22 years in direct sales and business development. He spent 14 years at SunPower / Maxeon, managing key markets in Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Eastern Europe, Pakistan, and parts of the Middle East. Additionally, he lived and worked for 8 years in Southeast Asia, gaining deep industry expertise. His strengths include account management, revenue growth, distributor network expansion, and strategic market planning. He has represented SunPower and Maxeon at global trade fairs and conferences. Michael holds a Diploma in Business Informatics and has extensive experience in Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. He is fluent in German (C2) and English (C1).

Speaker

Dr. Hamed Hanifi, AESOLAR

Technical Director Global

Germany

Dr. Hamed Hanifi holds a PhD on Electrical Engineering and Photovoltaics from Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg. His career spans from 2013-2021 at Fraunhofer CSP in the groups of Module Technology and Module Reliability. Between 2021-2024, he has been leading the Research and Development department and since 2025, he acts as the Global Technical Director at AESOLAR. His group is dedicated to pioneering PV modules, enhancing efficiency, and ensuring durability, especially in extreme climates. Apart from standard modules, he focuses on PV applications such as Agrivoltaics, Shade-resistant, and PV-Thermal modules.

Speaker

Vishwanathan Iyer, Caelux Corporation

Managing Director - India and West Asia

Vish Iyer is Managing Director for India & Middle East at Caelux Corporation, a U.S.-based innovator in perovskite-silicon hybrid tandem solar technology backed by Khosla Ventures and Temasek. With 20+ years across renewable energy, industrials, manufacturing, and private equity, he is driving Caelux's adoption and scaling next-generation solar manufacturing across India and the Middle East.Vish has built and led over USD 1.7 billion in renewable energy platforms, developed 4.5+ GWp of renewable and energy storage assets, and raised approximately USD 750 million in clean energy capital. A Rising Star Finalist at the S&P Global Platts Energy Awards, he has held leadership roles at Siemens, L&T Construction, Mahindra Partners, Sterling & Wilson, and Jakson Green, and is a frequent speaker at global forums including Infrastructure Investor, BNEF, IFC, and Intersolar Europe.