Europe's energy vulnerabilities are once again in focus, with the current crisis accelerating both the energy transition and the uptake of electromobility. Against this backdrop, The Smarter E Europe — the continent's largest alliance of energy industry exhibitions — is making a pointed statement with its new special exhibit, Renewables 24/7: that renewable energy can deliver a secure, reliable and affordable supply every day, around the clock. The theme is given scientific weight by a new study from the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, which will be presented on 23 June as one of the opening highlights.
The new study, Cost-Optimal Transformation of the German Energy System by 2045 – Setting the Course for a Reliable, Resilient and Climate-Neutral 24/7 Energy System, was conducted by Fraunhofer ISE on behalf of The Smarter E Europe. It demonstrates, on the basis of hard data, that a renewable energy system can be reliable, cost-effective, resilient and climate-neutral while supporting growth and prosperity in industrialised nations.
Renewables 24/7 exhibit
The special exhibit Renewables 24/7 – Secure Energy for a Changing World in hall C5 sets out to show how this vision translates into practice, and is the standout attraction at this year's event. Organised around four thematic areas, namely industry, commerce, residential applications and mobility, it traces how a renewable energy system functions across generation, distribution, storage, grid integration and hydrogen technologies. Realistic scenarios illustrate both the opportunities and the challenges, including volatility and surplus generation.
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The exhibition also takes on the "dark doldrums“ – the periods of low wind and solar generation that critics cite as evidence of renewable unreliability. "The special exhibit demonstrates that the transformation is technically feasible, profitable and reliable. Renewable energies are no longer the exception but the rule. Every day, the vision of a climate-neutral energy world moves closer to becoming a reality. However, we need significantly greater momentum and commitment," says Markus Elsässer, founder and CEO of Solar Promotion GmbH.
Energy transition a mindset challenge
Public discourse on the energy transition often paints a bleaker picture than the facts justify. A panel discussion on 23 June – The Energy Transition is a Mindset Challenge: 24/7 Renewables are Achievable (in German) – aims to shift the debate onto more objective ground. Michael Kellner (Member of the Bundestag, the Federal Parliament of Germany), Ursula Heinen-Esser (President of the German Renewable Energy Federation, BEE), Prof. Dr Christian Stöcker (journalist and media researcher) and Luisa Neubauer (climate activist) will discuss how a fully renewable energy system is both technically practicable and socially viable.
Markus Elsässer: "The solutions are ready"
With a focus on Germany, the session will examine the gap between available technological solutions and the slow pace of renewable expansion caused by administrative hurdles and legislation. It will open with remarks from Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, and will be hosted by energy expert Dr Tim Meyer.
E-mobility and integration
Hall C6 hosts The Bidirectional Zone, where visitors can explore how electric vehicles can charge, store and feed electricity back into the grid, reducing energy costs while generating additional revenue. Fleet operators benefit from add-on technologies such as smart charging and virtual swarm storage, which can deliver attractive returns on investment. The study Plug, Store, Profit – Economic Potential of Bidirectional Fleets provides the supporting evidence, and will be presented on 23 June at 15:00 at the Power2Drive Forum.
Visitors can also take test drives with electric cars and light commercial vehicles in the Test Drive area near the East Entrance. New to the programme are the Fleet Transformation Days, taking place on 23 and 24 June, aimed at fleet managers looking to introduce electric vehicle fleets and the necessary charging infrastructure. "We want to be pioneers of the transportation transition and send powerful signals from Munich to the world. This is where e-mobility comes to life. This is where ideas become reality," says Jens Mohrmann, Managing Director of Freiburg Wirtschaft Touristik und Messe (FWTM).
Green hydrogen: the key to the transformation
Green hydrogen remains a central pillar of decarbonisation. The newly designed Hydrogen Dialogue Forum & Expo in hall B2 gives the topic dedicated space, with visitors able to explore potential applications, technological innovations, cost-saving opportunities and pioneering projects. On 24 and 25 June, the Hydrogen Dialogue Summit at the International Congress Center München (ICM) turns to current trends and challenges in the hydrogen sector.
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Policymakers and industry leaders will examine the strategic importance of hydrogen for a resilient, climate-friendly energy supply alongside decision-makers from German and European industry and associations. The summit is opened on 24 June by Hubert Aiwanger, Bavarian Minister of State for Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy.
Technology transfer from space
The results of the ees Island Challenge 2026 (BEYOND EARTH) will be presented on the ees Innovation Hub Stage in hall B0. Two teams have been developing a concept since March for a self-sufficient energy system on the Moon, commissioned by the European Space Agency (ESA) and carried out in cooperation with the German Solar Association (BSW-Solar) and ees Europe. The challenge required participants to simulate the power supply for FLEXhab, a space habitat prototype housed in a container at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Cologne. Solutions developed for space conditions, with the resilience and reliability that entails, have direct applications for critical infrastructure and stand-alone power systems, or microgrids, on Earth.
Four specialist conferences, seven exhibition forums
The Smarter E Europe is hosting four specialist conferences and seven exhibition forums. The conferences open on 22 June at the ICM, focusing on strategic and regulatory market issues as well as technological developments. The forums run from 23–25 June in the respective exhibition halls, covering product solutions and applications across a broad range of topics: digital twins, grid stability and demand-side flexibility, utility-scale battery storage, charging trends and current best practices. Negative electricity prices and hybrid PV power plants also feature.
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On the eve of the exhibition, 22 June, companies will be recognised for their technological pioneering work with The Smarter E Award, presented across five categories: Photovoltaics, Energy Storage, E-Mobility, Smart Integrated Energy and Outstanding Projects. On 25 June, the Energy Transition Award goes to utility companies driving the energy transition in Europe and the German-speaking region. National and international utilities and grid operators will also find a dedicated space for networking and strategic discussion in the Utility Lounge at the East Entrance. (hcn)
