Trade Fairs

Energy Future Debated at KEY Energy Summit

Published

3 months ago

6 March 2026

The KEY Energy Summit, held within the framework of KEY – The Energy Transition Expo in Rimini, addressed emerging scenarios, technological developments and market dynamics shaping the energy sector.

During the summit, the study titled “Energy Transition, Between Global Scenarios, Technologies and Governance”, conducted by Althesys (TEHA Group), was presented in the presence of Italy’s Minister for the Environment and Energy Security Gilberto Pichetto Fratin.

The research analysed the European electricity system, energy policies and market developments, highlighting the role of infrastructure, artificial intelligence, data centres and emerging technologies in the evolving energy landscape.

According to the study, data centre connection requests to the Italian electricity grid have reached 69 GW. While data centres accounted for less than 2% of national electricity demand in 2024, projections for 2035 indicate a share between 7.4% and 12.7% of final electricity consumption.

Following the presentation, a two-session roundtable brought together representatives from major industry associations including Elettricità Futura, ANIE Rinnovabili, ANEV, Italia Solare, Federidroelettrica, ASSOESCO, FIRE, H2IT, Coordinamento FREE and Motus-E.

Hydrogen Cooperation Between Italy and Germany

Another event focused on hydrogen cooperation between Italy and Germany. Organised by Hannover Fairs International and Hydrogen + Fuel Cells Europe, the session examined the current status and future prospects of hydrogen technologies in Europe.

Following opening remarks by Benjamin Hanna from the German Embassy in Rome, representatives from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, the Italian Ministry for Environment and Energy Security and Hydrogen Europe Research shared insights on the development of the hydrogen ecosystem.

The event concluded with a roundtable discussion involving representatives from VNG Italia, FluxSwiss, Ansaldo Green Tech and Intesa Sanpaolo.

EPC and Finance Discussed for Renewable Projects

The conference titled “EPC and Finance: the new phase of renewables”, organised by Elemens and KEY, explored construction challenges and financing conditions for renewable energy projects.

According to data presented during the event, renewable energy projects authorised in Italy in 2025 reached 9.5 GW of solar and 1.5 GW of wind capacity.

The discussion also addressed regulatory developments, project bankability, financial leverage and market design in the context of Europe’s evolving energy policies.

Lorenzo Cagnoni Innovation Award Presented at KEY 2026

Innovation and technological excellence in the energy transition were recognised through the Lorenzo Cagnoni Innovation Award, presented during KEY 2026.

Among the awarded companies were IGreen System, Meteodyn, Clivet, CRRC Zhuzhou Institute, Alperia Green Future, Dragone Energy and ENEA.

In the Innovation District, start-ups including Taleta, Northernlight, I-Tes, CO2CO, AI-Cure, Powandgo and Enercade were recognised as the most innovative projects.

Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure in Focus

Another session at KEY examined the development of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in Italy and Europe.

The conference, organised by GSE and Motus-E, gathered operators, institutions and regulators to discuss infrastructure development, tariff dynamics and the integration of charging networks into national energy systems.

Participants also addressed the National Infrastructure Plan for Electric Vehicle Charging (PNIRE) and the future outlook for electric mobility in Italy.

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KEY – The Energy Transition Expo 2026 closes with 10% growth in visitor numbers

Mesut Kul

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Trade Fairs

KEY – The Energy Transition Expo 2026 closes with 10% growth in visitor numbers

Published

3 months ago

9 March 2026

Mesut Kul

KEY – The Energy Transition Expo, organised by Italian Exhibition Group (IEG), concluded its 2026 edition at Rimini Expo Centre with a 10% increase in total attendance and a 9% rise in international visitors.

Held from 4 to 6 March 2026, the event brought together industry leaders, technology providers, investors and institutions to discuss the future of the global energy transition.

Recognised as a key platform for Europe, Africa and the Mediterranean region, the exhibition combined a large-scale trade show with conferences and international business networking.

More than 1,000 exhibitors and strong international participation

The exhibition covered 125,000 square metres across 24 halls and hosted more than 1,000 exhibiting brands, including 320 international companies.

A total of 530 hosted buyers and delegations from 59 countries attended the event with the support of the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI).

The event also accredited 412 journalists from around the world.

Focus on technology, energy systems and digitalisation

The exhibition was officially inaugurated on 4 March by Italy’s Minister for the Environment and Energy Security, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin.

KEY 2026 featured 160 conferences and technical sessions, addressing key topics shaping the energy transition, including:

energy efficiency and decarbonisation
energy storage technologies
artificial intelligence for electricity grid optimisation
renewable energy production forecasting
real-time management of energy flows

The event served as a platform connecting engineers, technology developers, investors and institutions to accelerate project development and reduce financial risk.

Financing renewable energy projects

Financial innovation was another major theme of the event.

Discussions focused on new financing mechanisms for renewable energy projects, including:

green bonds
sustainable project bonds
participatory financing models involving citizens and businesses
tools designed to manage and reduce energy costs

Innovation District highlights start-ups and green jobs

The Innovation District showcased 32 start-ups and SMEs presenting new technologies for the energy transition.

The Green Jobs & Skills initiative also facilitated connections between companies and professionals in the sustainability sector.

During the event, the Lorenzo Cagnoni Innovation Award was presented to seven start-ups and seven exhibitors for their innovative projects.

DPE – International Electricity Expo held alongside KEY

Alongside KEY, the DPE – International Electricity Expo took place, focusing on electricity generation, transmission, distribution, safety and automation systems.

The event was organised by Italian Exhibition Group in collaboration with the Distributed Generation Association (ANIMA Confindustria) and Federazione ANIE.

KEY CHOICE event focused on PPAs

Ahead of the exhibition, the KEY CHOICE – Unlock the Future of PPAs event took place on 3 March at the Rimini Palacongressi Conference Centre, focusing on Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and organised in collaboration with Elemens.