Energy demand is rising worldwide, but in most regions – even in developed countries – the infrastructure is aging. Also, as renewable energies gain importance, demands on the power grid are rising, with volatile and decentralized power supply threatening its stability. Both the political and business spheres are calling for comprehensive renovation of the energy infrastructure, and closer coordination between energy generation, distribution, storage and consumption.

In its recent study "Smart Grid Communications 2020," Fraunhofer ESK (Institute for communication engineering systems) states that "communication technology is needed to ensure continued reliability of energy supply." From powerline communication to Internet protocol, there are already many available technologies, but their suitability in practice and their security are still unproven. For many smart grid applications the question remains "to what extent can relatively inexpensive Internet technologies be used, given the high security requirements?" Of central importance, says Fraunhofer ESK, is "the standardization of smart grid functions and protocols to allow interoperability and open competition."

What does the secure, efficient, sustainable and competitive power supply system of the future look like? This question is addressed by more than 1,000 exhibitors at the Energy trade fair at HANNOVER MESSE 2012, including Landis+Gyr, Alcatel-Lucent and the Swiss company ABB. "The current transformation of the energy market is epoch-making," said Oliver Frese, Senior Vice President of HANNOVER MESSE. "Exhibitors will respond by presenting forward-looking solutions for secure and affordable energy. Smart grids have a major role to play: only they can make the use of renewable energies feasible to the extent governments want them to be."

Some manufacturers present their solutions as part of the Smart Grids – E-Energy exhibition focus, where the six model regions in the German E-Energy program are represented. This theme park includes a Smart Grids forum, an exhibit marketplace and a get-together.

And smart power grids are not present only at the Energy trade fair. The Metropolitan Solutions area considers the modernization of infrastructures of all types in urban conglomerations: traffic, waste management, water management and "smart urban grids." On the very first day of the fair, the Metropolitan Solutions forum will examine the topic "Energy supply and supply security" (Monday 23 April, 3 – 6 p.m.).