The Key Energy renewable energy show in Rimini, northern Italy, is demonstrating its growing importance with 800 exhibitors, 30 per cent more than last year, and four more exhibition halls. From the first day of the fair today (Wednesday) until the closing day on Friday, the trade fair organiser IEG is also expecting 300 invited or specially supervised commercial visitors and delegations from 57 countries. Most of them come from North Africa and the neighbouring countries beyond the Sahara desert region to the south, but also from Eastern Europe and the Balkan states in particular.
The exhibitors also reflect the growing international interest in the Italian energy transition trade fair - with 35 per cent of exhibitors now coming from outside Italy. A Special Edition on Africa at the accompanying conference will also serve to prepare a meeting of the G7 group, which sees itself as an alliance of the world's economically leading countries, and will be moderated by Italy. Cooperation with African countries will be an important topic at this G7 meeting.
See also: Schletter Group installs 48 MW project in Italy
The show will present the energy transition of the southern European country and the southern European region, which is envisaged by its government and the trade fair organisers as a large renewable energy community, in 16 halls. Thematically, solar energy takes up the largest space at the exhibition centre in seven halls alone, ahead of wind energy with one and a half halls and the show for energy storage units, which is directly linked to solar energy, also in two halls.
The trade fair and conference will bring together the entire spectrum of the energy transition industry, as it did the first time as an independent energy transition show in 2023: A large energy efficiency hall, an exhibition for electromobility in conjunction with the presentation area for municipal energy supply and sustainable cities as well as an area connected to the wind energy exhibition for companies for the production, transport or distribution of green sustainably produced hydrogen.
Another hall will be used for events and workshops. In addition, visitors will find stands from small and medium-sized companies and start-ups with innovative technology offerings and concepts in an area of the entrance hall designed as a central innovation square, which can be explored via four themed routes. Central podium debates or an award ceremony relating to innovations will take place on a stage.
Also interesting: Solar Solutions Amsterdam as showcase for innovations
In another, 17th hall, the industry association Anima and the electrical engineering association Anie are organising a parallel exhibition for companies that provide energy transmission and energy conversion or offer technology for this. The organisers of Key Energy also want to integrate the players in these two central fields of activity for the energy transition into the exchange of ideas and the initiation of economic contacts or new business.
The side event called DPE - International Electricity Expo also took place in 2023.
Among the foreign exhibitors from 25 countries, however, Germany is the country from which the exhibitor directory lists the most players. Companies taking part with their own stands include the large renewable energy company Baywa RE and the digitalisation provider and developer of artificial intelligence Aivalution, as well as solar technology providers.
Italy's role as a central hub for the supply of energy sources such as natural gas or hydrogen over very long distances from North Africa or the Arab economic area of the Middle East, as proclaimed by the new Italian government, is emphasised by the trade fair with more than just one event.
In view of the upcoming G7 meeting in Turin at the end of April, which is being organised by the Italian government as host, the accompanying conference programme includes an Africa Day in particular: "The ramp-up of sustainable electrification in Africa, for Africa, with Africa - Res4Africa - with regard to the G7 energy policy" is the title of this two-part theme day. Divided into two three-hour sessions, this conference will take place on Thursday morning and Friday afternoon. (mfo)
