In Italy, the Fer-X decree is expected to launch the new tender volumes for wind farms and onshore photovoltaics, and the Fer-2 decree for a range of other technologies. While Fer-2 has been in force since December and is intended to get biomass energy plants and renewable technologies with higher costs, such as offshore wind power, off the ground with tenders for 3.8 gigawatts of offshore wind power by 2028, the launch of Fer-X is now imminent. The significance of the KEY trade fair in Rimini from March 5 to 7, including a program on the evening of March 4, at this point in time is explained by Alessandra Astolfi, Global Exhibition Director at the trade fair company IEG.
The energy transition in Italy could soon gain clarity through the so-called FER-X interim decree for future tenders for onshore wind energy and photovoltaic projects, as well as the FER-2 decree for offshore wind farm projects, regarding the decisive initial phase of its progress towards 2030. Will Key 25 in Rimini mark the starting point for this?
Alessandra Astolfi: The energy transition is a process that is already in full swing and that cannot and must not be stopped. There is still a long way to go to achieve the goals that arise from the need to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. We have a huge opportunity to develop and ensure security and independence in the field of energy supply. However, its implementation requires cooperation in order to find joint, consensual solutions that accelerate the path to decarbonization.
In this respect, KEY plays a leading role in this transformation. It is able to bring together all the main industry players in Rimini for three days and promote meetings, discussions, exchanges and dialogue with the institutions. As a testament to the huge momentum driving the market and the interest in our event, we expect KEY 25 to see over 20 percent more brand exhibitors than in 2024, as well as numerous buyers, international representatives and qualified professionals from around the world.
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You can use the events and conferences to find out about innovations and the future of energy and to stay up to date, while gaining a cross-industry view of all the sectors involved in the energy transition. Photovoltaics and especially agri-PV, onshore and offshore wind energy, energy efficiency in industry and in the residential sector, electric mobility, urban renewal, hydrogen, energy storage and renewable energy communities are just a few of the many topics.
Can the exhibition promote the participation of southern European companies in Italy's energy transition by showing them the opportunities for value creation through a comprehensive energy transition: an energy transition not only with renewable energies, but also with hydrogen, energy storage, geothermal energy and more?
When we decided to turn KEY into a stand-alone event almost three years ago, we wanted to organize a trade fair that was dedicated exclusively to energy transition and efficiency, but that could also offer a 360-degree overview. This overarching nature is the special feature that makes KEY a unique event in the European trade fair scene. There are seven product areas: photovoltaics, wind, hydrogen, energy efficiency, energy storage, e-mobility and eco-city. A clearly defined exhibition area is reserved for each of these, but they are connected to the others in order to highlight all the existing synergies that are necessary for the implementation of the energy transition.
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And not only that. We don't want to limit the vision to southern Europe, but have expanded it to the entire Mediterranean basin and also to the African continent. After all, the area has many natural resources and enormous potential for development in the field of renewable energies, even though there are still many challenges to be overcome. As KEY, we want to show the opportunity for the Mediterranean region to become the hub of this change.
How important is the planned exhibition perspective on the entire Mediterranean region?
It plays a key role. During the three-day trade fair, we will raise the market's awareness and create all the necessary conditions for the global energy transition community to meet in Rimini. Participants will be able to take advantage of business and networking opportunities and listen to the most important industry experts who take part in our events. We present unpublished research and studies. Institutions also take part in the conferences to stimulate debate and help identify the quickest solutions to the problems that still stand in the way of the energy transition. In a sub-conference, which is organized every year by the Res4Africa Foundation and has now become a tradition, we also turn our attention to Africa.
What will be new at Key 25 in March?
For one thing, the layout has been completely redesigned so that KEY can respond to its future growth needs without too much effort. The exhibition will therefore cover an area of over 90,000 square meters, with a total of 20 halls and three open entrances to the south, east and west.
In addition to the traditional exhibition areas, we will also be providing special and cross-divisional spaces as well as new thematic focal points – for example, “Su.port – Sustainable Ports for Energy Transition”, which is dedicated to the electrification of port quays, the promotion of sustainability in ports and the acceleration of the development of offshore wind energy, in particular for floating solutions. In addition, we have expanded the hydrogen section with a new exhibition organized by Italian Exhibition Group together with Hannover Fairs International, the Italian branch of Deutsche Messe AG. We call this hydrogen show Hype, or in its long form Hydrogen Power Expo supported by Hydrogen & Fuel Cells.
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We will strengthen the Innovation District, which has always been dedicated to start-ups and the most innovative projects. This year, Green Jobs & Skill will be held for the first time in this area, an initiative that promotes discussions between companies looking for new talent, young people and students.
The program of events also includes moments of reflection and in-depth analysis of topics that we have not addressed before. These include artificial intelligence, its possible applications in the energy sector, and the opportunities, risks, ethical aspects and environmental impacts that arise from the introduction of this technology.
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On the evening before the KEY, on Tuesday 4 March, we will also be organizing the KEY Choice – Unlock the Future of PPA event once again. This is a B2B event for power purchase agreements, which we are organizing in collaboration with Elemens, a Milan-based energy market analysis service provider. (Tilman Weber/hcn)
More information about the KEY in Rimini from 5 to 7 March 2025
