Four years is a long time in the solar industry. Think about what's happened in the U.S. industry since 2009: We've seen a recession, a massive boom in federal spending, a precipitous drop in solar module prices, a wave of bankruptcies, a nasty trade battle with China, a slowdown in utility-scale projects, a strong gain in residential projects, and a now a massive retraction in federal spending. Amidst it all, solar installations continue to grow.

It's anyone's guess what the next four years will bring. But the analysts at GTM research are always thinking about what's coming down the pike. And the Greentech Media Solar Summit next month is the perfect place to hear from our analysts and other professionals in the industry about what they're seeing on the ground.

Take a look at this chart from GTM Research showing the differences between 2012 and 2016:

That sure is a lot of growth. But what's actually going to happen as we get there? Well, we can probably expect a lot more bankruptcies, a lot more policy uncertainty, and some major changes to business models.

"If you think the tumult of the last two years in the solar industry is almost over, you're wrong," says Shayle Kann, vice president of research at GTM Research. "Instead, while the manufacturing correction continues, the downstream solar market will feel the growing pains of a transition toward sustainable markets globally and post-incentive challenges in the U.S."

And that's exactly why we hold conferences like the upcoming one slated to convene in Phoenix in late April. Your business depends on it.

Dramatic, yes. But also truthful.

"The GTM Solar Summit is all about equipping companies with the tools to navigate these waters, and our opening presentation will identify trends and opportunities that much of the industry has missed," says Kann.

Indeed, we'll have a stellar lineup this year featuring companies all across the value chain. This year's summit will focus on global trends, PV module pricing and costs, balance of systems, new solar markets, and of course, the future of the U.S. solar market.

If you want access to the best analysts and top CEOs in the solar business, our solar summit is definitely the place to be. Come join us and learn with us.