THE INNOVATION HUB FOR EMPOWERING NEW ENERGY SOLUTIONS MESSE MÜNCHEN, GERMANY LAUNCHING THE SMARTER E Be part of the Leading Energy Exhibitions and Conferences at The smarter E Europe
THE SMARTER E EUROPE ENERGY EFFICIENCY ELECTRICITY E-MOBILITY
2 3 PHOTOS. 1 Renewable energy has become a crucial part of our energy supply system. 2 Digitalization and decentralization are changing the face of the energy world for good. THE NEW ENERGY WORLD The global energy industry has been undergoing a radical transformation in recent years. Instead of large-scale, centralized nuclear and fossil fuel power stations, the energy supply of the future will be secured by millions of decentralized renewable energy plants and storage systems as well as consumers acting as prosumers. Solar and wind energy are becoming key pillars of tomorrow s energy world. Two years ago, global investment in renewable energy reached the sum of $329 billion, surpassing investment in fossil fuels for the first time. The rise of renewables is bringing about a transition in the structure of our energy supply. In order for the fluctuating amounts of electricity generated from renewable sources of energy such as solar and wind power to be used efficiently, the electricity, heating, cooling and mobility sectors, which once operated in isolation, will increasingly converge thanks to the use of cogeneration, electrical heating systems, e-mobility, hybrid power plants and other technologies. Like innovative energy storage systems, these new solutions mean that energy no longer has to be consumed as soon as it is generated. However, this also requires a modern, intelligent and digital infrastructure which enables the boundaries between generation and consumption to be overcome using smart energy management systems at the same rate as those between the mobility, electricity and heating markets. Modern communication technology is bringing about rapid advancements in how we collect, share and store data, thereby influencing and accelerating the development of a cutting-edge energy supply system based on renewable energy. At the same time, this technology is opening up new business areas, such as the development of intelligent energy management solutions and the consolidation of decentralized generation systems into virtual power plants.
THE SMARTER E EUROPE PHOTO. The future energy world is renewable, digital and connected. THE ENERGY TRANSITION REQUIRES US TO LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE With over 25 years of experience, Intersolar has the unique ability to bring together members of the solar industry from across the world s most influential markets to help increase the share of solar power in our energy mix. The widespread generation of solar energy was still a visionary dream for the future a quarter of a century ago, but has since become an indispensable part of society, the economy and energy supply system. With its long history of world-leading exhibitions, Intersolar has supported these developments from the very beginning, making a considerable contribution to the solar industry s success. But far from being just a means to an end, solar energy is an essential part of our endeavors to create a more responsible energy industry. Today s energy world is more complex than ever. For renewable energy to compete against conventional sources of energy, it is not enough to simply improve how it is generated. Instead, the fields of generation, energy storage, distribution and consumption must work together seamlessly. Energy Storage ees Europe, the continent s largest exhibition for batteries and energy storage systems, has been held alongside Intersolar Europe since 2014. Energy storage is an important topic, as innovative storage solutions not only enable electricity to be consumed long after it is generated, but also stabilize grids. This means storage technology is essential for ensuring our energy mix will contain a large share of renewables long into the future. Smart Renewable Energy With the new key topic of smart renewable energy first introduced in 2016, Intersolar shines the spotlight on topics and developments concerning the new energy world during its forums, conferences and special exhibits. The topics range from the opportunities and challenges created by digitalization and sector coupling to intelligent energy management systems and virtual power plants.
4 5 50,000 VISITORS 1,200 EXHIBITORS THE SMARTER E THE NEW ENERGY WORLD In order to give all these aspects the attention they deserve, the organizers of Intersolar and ees are taking the logical step of combining all topics and events concerning the new energy world under a new umbrella called The smarter E. The smarter E will not only be a new umbrella brand, but will also act as a strong link between Intersolar, ees, and the new EM-Power and Power2Drive exhibitions. The smarter E will also create additional opportunities for addressing all the key areas along the energy value chain by providing the important topics and formats from exhibitions, conferences and forums, to workshops, dedicated events and collaborations with a permanent home under the new umbrella. This will allow new areas of focus to be set and better integrated, the latest developments to be addressed in more detail, and discussions between the various sectors and industries to be more actively encouraged. By following this approach, The smarter E will enable us to look at the bigger picture and beyond. The smarter E is also a response to the developments taking place in our exhibiting companies, which are relying increasingly on integrated and intelligently connected systems and services. The same can be said of our partners, conference attendees and visitors, whose requirements are changing as a result of digitalization. In fact, with people organizing all areas of their lives digitally, consumers also require access to digital services in the energy sector. 165 NATIONS Together we share the common vision of creating a smart, sustainable and cost-effective energy supply system. The new umbrella brand serves as a unique platform for achieving this goal and gives the new energy world a name: The smarter E.
THE SMARTER E EUROPE RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION COST-EFFECTIVE AND ATTRACTIVE PHOTO. The PV capacity installed worldwide stood at 300 gigawatts (GW) at the end of 2016. ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY ELECTRICITY The use of renewables is on the rise worldwide. This change was initially inspired by the green motivation to generate environmentally friendly electricity in an effort to counter climate change and the risks associated with nuclear energy and fossil fuels. A growing number of new technologies and business models are being developed which make renewable energy less expensive and more attractive to both suppliers and consumers as a result. PV capacity already stands at 300 GW The demand for environmentally friendly electricity is growing worldwide, pushing the total PV capacity installed globally to around 300 GW at the end of 2016. According to the SolarPower Europe industry association, at 76.2 GW, the amount of PV capacity newly installed worldwide in 2016 increased by 50% compared with the previous year. The rise in capacity is causing prices to fall, meaning that solar power is cheaper than ever before. In many cases, it cost just 3 to 5 US cents to generate one kilowatt hour (kwh) of solar power in 2016. Photovoltaics has helped shape the energy transition Besides an increase in the number of large-scale PV power plants connected to the grid, private households and companies are generating their own electricity using PV systems on the roofs of their homes and factories. Millions of large and small decentralized energy generation units, many of which are helping consumers to be completely independent of utilities, are expected to be in operation in the future. The sight of solar panels on roofs has become commonplace in Germany and the trend is rising. Taking the initiative to install a solar system is a worthwhile investment which turns individual consumers into prosumers capable of producing their own power.
6 7 PHOTOS. Combination of solar installations, wind turbines and energy storage systems are hybrid solutions the way forward? Wind Power makes a Difference as well Besides PV systems, small wind turbines are becoming increasingly popular, especially among individual consumers who install them on their properties and use them to generate electricity for on-site consumption. According to the World Wind Energy Association (WWEA), around 945,000 plants had been installed worldwide by the end of 2014. This number includes systems with a capacity of less than 100 kilowatts (kw), with a wind resistance surface of up to 200 square meters and a height of up to 10 meters. In most cases, plants of this height do not require any special approval. These plants supply electricity to individual private households and businesses, sometimes even operating as hybrid solutions in combination with solar installations and battery storage systems. The intelligent ways in which wind turbines can be used make them one of the best examples of the latest innovations in the energy industry. This is because the combination of several sources of energy is an essential component of the energy transition. Intersolar the world s leading event for the solar industry As a leading exhibition, Intersolar has been broadening horizons for more than 25 years. Since being founded, it has supported developments in the solar sector and has repeatedly reinvented itself as an industry platform, now hosting events on four continents. With The Smarter E Europe innovation hub in Munich, Intersolar is focusing in even more detail on its key topic of solar energy generation and creating a link between all aspects of the new energy world. The Intersolar Europe Conference not only takes a more indepth look at subjects relating to the generation of solar power, but also uses its extensive accompanying program to examine additional topics affecting the energy transition, such as the distribution and consumption of renewable power.
THE SMARTER E EUROPE DIGITALIZATION IS BRINGING THE DECENTRALIZED ENERGY MARKET TOGETHER PHOTO. The transmission of power in modern grids must be reorganized and distribution made more efficient and intelligent. INTELLIGENT ELECTRIC POWER DISTRIBUTION The more electricity is generated using renewable sources of energy, the greater the challenges posed by distribution and effective energy consumption. This is because regardless of whether it is generated using large-scale solar power stations or on domestic rooftops power is not always produced where it is consumed. To compound matters, wind and solar energy production fluctuates throughout the day and night. In addition to overcoming both regional shortfalls in supply and shortages experienced during the course of the day, solutions and business models for efficient and intelligent distribution must be developed. This requires us to rethink our approach and develop new technologies capable of reorganizing the transmission of power in modern grids and of making distribution more efficient and intelligent. Since the conventional method of grid expansion has reached its limits in this regard, it is time for digitalization to come into play. Digitalization affects all the core areas of the new energy world. Alongside electricity storage, it plays a very important role in electric power distribution and in making demand more flexible. The digital transformation is helping the decentralized energy market to work more closely together again, while enabling the various resources to be used efficiently. This entire process relies on intelligent power grids known as smart grids. These grids are able to balance energy supply and demand, which is essential for supply security and grid stability. The use of smart grids and digitalization along the energy value chain prevents overloading by enabling excess energy caused by the weather (e.g. a lot of wind or sun) to be stored and subsequently used to compensate for supply shortages.
8 9 SECTOR COUPLING: THE ENERGY SYSTEM OF THE FUTURE
THE SMARTER E EUROPE ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS STABILIZE ENERGY SUPPLY PHOTO. Energy storage facilities stabilize the energy supply cycle. EFFICIENT ELECTRICITY STORAGE Renewable energy is perfectly complemented by energy storage systems, which can absorb the electricity generated and make it available again when needed. Renewable energy storage solutions of all sizes, from residential and commercial devices to large-scale storage systems for stabilizing the grid, represent a strong growth market. For example, the German Solar Association (BSW-Solar) predicts that the number of solar storage systems installed in Germany will virtually double to 100,000 by the end of 2018. Meanwhile, GTM Research estimates that the US energy storage sector will have an annual market volume of more than $1 billion by 2018. The expansion of energy storage systems, the rising popularity of electric vehicles and falling cell prices are causing rechargeable batteries to become more and more widespread. Avicenne Energy expects the annual market volume of all rechargeable battery technology sales to reach 475 gigawatt hours worth or $80 billion worldwide by 2020. Digitalization is playing an ever greater role in the increasingly decentralized energy infrastructure found in the renewable energy system. Smart storage units which communicate with both generators and consumers are able to compensate for imbalances and assist with the intelligent distribution of electricity. Large-scale storage systems and energy storage communities stabilize the energy supply by absorbing the electricity generated by several solar or wind energy plants at times when it cannot be directly fed into the grid. The electricity can then be fed in at a later point in time, sold on the balancing power market or consumed in order, for example, to ease peak loads. This means that energy storage systems enable domestic and commercial consumers to enjoy investment security and greater flexibility.
10 11 PHOTOS. Suppliers, manufacturers, distributors and users of stationary energy storage solutions. ENERGY STORAGE IS A KEY TOPIC Numerous research institutes and companies are developing solutions for the energy transition, such as virtual power plants and energy storage communities. This involves the interconnection of multiple geographically dispersed storage units into one large resource to make decentralized energy storage even more cost-effective. The contribution made by electric vehicles to our energy supply system should also not be underestimated. This is because thanks to the development of increasingly efficient batteries and system integration solutions, vehicles can be used as mobile storage devices. These developments are a sign that generation, storage, distribution and consumption can no longer be regarded as stand-alone processes. Smart renewable energy, which encompasses the combination of energy generation, storage, grid integration and energy management, is also a crucial topic for the energy storage industry. ees Europe the continent s largest storage exhibition ees Europe has become one of the energy storage industry s leading platforms in just a few short years. It acts as a meeting point for suppliers, manufacturers, distributors and users of stationary energy storage solutions. ees Europe always shines the spotlight on renewable energy. The ees Europe Conference, which is held alongside the exhibition, and the Intersolar Europe Conference bring together all the stakeholders in the new energy world. Combined under the umbrella of The smarter E Europe, these events and the other exhibitions and conferences will fulfill this requirement more successfully than ever in the future.
THE SMARTER E EUROPE ENERGY IS GENERATED, STORED AND THEN EFFICIENTLY CONSUMED PHOTO. Sector coupling is the combination of electricity, heat and e-mobility. SENSIBLE ENERGY CONSUMPTION While large-scale power stations located far away from consumers were once the norm, today photovoltaic installations, decentralized cogeneration units and heat pumps are increasingly being used to generate electricity and heat where they are actually needed in towns, cities and communities as well as in industrial enterprises, real estate and residential buildings, or, to put it simply, at the site of consumption. The decentralization of the energy industry is also elevating the demand for smart control systems which connect generators and consumers, and create an optimum balance between the two. From smart meters and smart grids to smart buildings, the digitalization of the energy system has long played an important role in industry, commerce, public facilities and private households. There is a huge potential in the building sector for electricity, heat and cooling to be generated using efficient energy technologies and renewable sources of energy. Intelligent sensor and control systems are already being employed to an ever greater extent here and will make an even more significant contribution to building energy management in the future. In this new energy world, customers are no longer passive energy consumers tied to monopolies, but have become crucial stakeholders who take responsibility for intelligently controlling their own energy consumption and have become energy producers in their own right. From decentralized and renewable power generation, to contracting and new energy services, the bounderies between generators and consumers will become more and more blurred in the future, leading to the development of new business models. This is causing the emergence of a new industry player known as the prosumer, in other words, an energy producer and consumer rolled into one. EM-Power from Consumer to Producer EM-Power is the first exhibition in Germany to place professional energy customers with their demand for efficient energy technologies, intelligent control systems and energy savings and the key concepts underpinning the energy transition in the building sector center stage.
12 13 PHOTOS. Whether it is used in vehicles or buildings, efficient and intelligent energy management reduces consumption. MOBILE POWER CONSUMPTION There is a growing trend for stationary generation and storage solutions to be complemented by mobile concepts. For example, electric cars are, on the one hand, powered by renewable energy. On the other hand, thanks to the availability of increasingly powerful lithium-ion batteries, they can also be used as a storage medium capable of being integrated into the power grid in the digital energy value chain. This means that electric cars make a crucial contribution to grid stability. Moreover, with the help of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology, vehicles connected to the grid can be automatically charged during periods of peak production to relieve the load on the grid. Conversely, the energy stored in electric cars can be used to help meet the additional demand during peak times. Power2Drive Europe The exhibition Power2Drive showcases electric mobility and charging solutions and technologies and reflects the interaction between electric vehicles and a sustainable and environmentally friendly energy supply. It is an industry hotspot for suppliers, manufacturers, distributors and start-ups in the emerging field of electric mobility and transportation. Our goal is to help companies to develop and distribute technologies and business in the field of traction batteries, charging infrastructure and electric vehicles and to push forward a sustainable future mobility.
THE SMARTER E EUROPE ALLGEMEINES EXBHITION SITE PLAN OF THE SMARTER E EUROPE 2018 Multi-Storey Car Park C1 C2 C3 C4 Intersolar Europe ees Europe EM-Power Europe Power2Drive Europe AUTOMATICA Conference ICM Entrance ICM B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 West Entrance A1 A2 A3 A4 A5 A6 U Express Way Messestadt West Subway Stop EXHIBITION HALLS OF THE SMARTER E EUROPE 2018 A1 Intersolar Europe PV Cell and Module Manufacturers A2 Intersolar Europe PV Cell and Module Manufacturers PV Components and Accessories PV Production Technologies Materials and Accessories A3 Intersolar Europe PV Systems Providers PV Distributors PV Products, Services PV Mounting Systems PV Tracking Systems B1 ees Europe Stationary Energy Storage Systems Power-to-Gas, Hydrogen, Fuel Cells B2 Intersolar Europe PV Inverters PV Monitoring, Measurement & Control Technologies Smart Renewable Energy B3 Intersolar Europe PV Inverters PV Monitoring, Measurement & Control Technologies PV System Providers PV Distributors PV Products, Services Off Grid Power Solar Thermal C1 ees Europe Battery Manufacturing Equipment Battery Materials Battery Testing/Research Power2Drive Europe Charging Infrastructure Electric Mobility C2 EM-Power Europe Flexible & Efficient Energy Consumption Energy Management in Industry & Buildings Energy Services
14 15 REPLACE FOSSIL FUELS. USE ENERGY FROM RENEWABLE SOURCE FOR HEATING, COOLING AND MOBILITY.
BE PART OF THE SMARTER E EUROPE www.thesmartere.de INTERSOLAR EUROPE www.intersolar.de EES EUROPE www.ees-europe.com EM-POWER EUROPE www.em-power.eu POWER2DRIVE EUROPE www.powertodrive.de ORGANIZERS Solar Promotion GmbH P.O. Box 100 170 75101 Pforzheim, Germany Tel.: +49 7231 58598-0 Fax: +49 7231 58598-28 info@thesmartere.de www.thesmartere.de FWTM Freiburg Wirtschaft Touristik und Messe GmbH & Co. KG Europaplatz 1 79108 Freiburg i. Br., Germany Tel.: +49 761 3881-3700 Fax: +49 761 3881-3770 TheSmarterE@fwtm.de Memberships Certifications