Hannover. With a total of over 84,000 visitors "Energy" has for many years been one of the top attractions at HANNOVER MESSE. This year more than 1,100 exhibitors presented their products and services under the heading "Integrated Energy". The line-up embraced generation, transmission and storage, smart distribution, digital energy management, as well as mobility solutions. The new name reflects the sharper focus on the cross-sectoral integration of electric power, thermal energy and mobility. Tomorrow’s digital factories will depend on reliable energy supplies. In particular, there is a strong demand for smart solutions for the effective interplay between renewables and storage systems.

The established energy infrastructure will undergo a radical change resulting from the expansion of renewable energy sources and the decentralization of heat and power generation. The key goal is to maintain grid stability under peak loads. Integrated Energy showcases all the latest cross-sectoral solutions – for example, combined heat and power generation for industry and systems for the transformation of solar and wind energy into hydrogen and methane ("Power to Gas") and liquid fuels ("Power to Liquids").

In April 2019 these issues will be on the agenda in Hannover at the special display "Hydrogen & Fuel Cells Europe", which will feature more than 150 exhibitors from 20 countries and ranks as the leading event of its kind on the European continent. The focus here is on hydrogen as a storage medium for energy derived from renewable sources. At two separate forums exhibitors and visitors will come together to discuss the technological aspects of hydrogen and fuel cells.

Digital energy infrastructure

In the "Energy Hall" (Hall 12) the spotlight will be on the digitization of the energy infrastructure – in particular, the digital control and monitoring of energy flows. The exhibitors include software developers, systems analysts and measuring technology specialists. Although numerous enterprises already have sophisticated measuring systems and large data quantities at their disposal, they often do not know how to generate value-added benefits. Artificial intelligence enables data to be analysed in real time. This boosts the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the energy infrastructure. The special display "Digital Energy" will attract an international array of exhibitors boasting solutions targeted at industrial users, as well as at municipal utilities, grid operators and electricity suppliers.

Integrated Energy Plaza and Life Needs Power are growing together

Knowledge is a vital resource in the rapidly changing energy sector. To provide visitors with a central source of information the two high-calibre forums "Integrated Energy Plaza" and "Life Needs Power" have been amalgamated in Hall 27. Experts from industry, science and the political community will gather here to discuss tomorrow’s energy systems and the need for reliable energy solutions in digital factories.

Infrastructure for electromobility

Mobility will change significantly in the coming years. Several factors play a role: the trend towards urbanization (and the resultant pressures on logistics systems), electromobility and digitization. The display category "Electric Vehicle Infrastructure" will focus on charging technology, autonomous driving, new invoicing systems and alternative mobility and transport solutions. At the accompanying forum leading experts will discuss and define the preconditions for tomorrow’s mobility systems.