Upcoming Trade Shows in Germany for Renewable Energies

Germany’s renewable energies industry has to make significant changes in order to catch up to the country’s deadline to achieve carbon neutrality. The last decade was marked by big advancements in technology, decreasing costs, and an expanding network of decentralized energy generation. Over the past few years, the cost of decentralized energy generation has declined considerably due to technological developments, incentive schemes, and increased installed capacity. Notably, the price for photovoltaic rooftop systems has fallen by 70% since 2006, a trend mirrored in the reduction of battery prices. A notable feature of Germany’s renewable energy landscape is the participation of over a million private investors, including residents and farmers, in generating electricity for the grid. These investors often use the generated electricity directly or feed it into the public grid. German energy cooperatives, which numbered approximately 850 in 2017, have invested around €1.2 billion in ""citizens’ power plants,"" collectively owning nearly half of the installed renewable energy capacity. Over 40% of these cooperatives own solar panels, around 20% have invested in wind turbines, biomass, or hydropower, and the rest have invested in co-generation units or grid infrastructure. Energy efficiency remains a critical area of focus in Germany, especially in buildings and industry. Close to 85% of the energy consumed by private households is used for heating and hot water, with two-thirds of the heating systems considered inefficient. This scenario presents significant opportunities for manufacturers of heat pumps, solar-thermal solutions, and district heating providers. The expansion of Germany's energy infrastructure is another pressing issue. Major investments are needed to expand the transmission and distribution networks, as the current electricity networks are not yet equipped to handle the transport of an increasing share of renewable energy. Decentralized electricity generation must be collected and transported over long distances to consumers.