The imperative of climate protection means that the share of fluctuating renewables in the world’s energy mix is increasing steadily. This calls for flexible, digitally integrated energy systems – in other words, complete energy system transformation. This is a major challenge, and HANNOVER MESSE, with its special display Digital Energy, presents the necessary technologies and solutions.
Hannover. “The technologies needed for greater energy efficiency are already here,” says Anke Hüneburg, head of Energy at the German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers’ Association (ZVEI), “but they cannot be viewed in isolation from energy use management and flexibility. How much energy is needed, when is it needed, and where?” This is where digitization has a key role to play, as Hüneburg explains: “The data made available by energy sector digitization make it possible to use existing technology solutions more efficiently and flexibly, while achieving a cost-effective, profitable overall energy system.”
The electrical engineering industry is currently pursuing a number of approaches to this, including some that are radically new. The ZVEI’s DC-INDUSTRIE project is a case in point. This is a bold new research initiative looking at whether, and to what extent, industrial energy supply systems can be converted to intelligent, open DC networks. “Germany’s electrical engineering industry stands for high-efficiency technologies, products and systems. It is a provider of energy services that enable the realization of state-of-the art solutions for energy production, distribution, storage and use,” Anke Hüneburg explains. In April 2019, the various companies and research institutes participating in the DC-INDUSTRIE project will present a detailed concept for such a DC grid technology at the Digital Energy pavilion in Hall 12 at HANNOVER MESSE’s Integrated Energy show.
Advanced energy system hardware is one part of the smart grid equation. The other is smart software, and it is a hot topic with many software development firms all around the world. “Today, energy management means much more than merely digitally capturing and visualizing energy data,” says Anna Brunckhorst from German software company IngSoft GmbH. “Any proper energy management software also needs to be able to digitally integrate all relevant upstream and downstream processes, including facility management processes.” Ultimately all energy system optimizations, be they supply-side, demand-side or in industry, are about energy efficiency and conservation. And together, they add up to major change – and hence major opportunities for smart companies. First-time HANNOVER MESSE exhibitor gridX GmbH (Munich, Germany) is one company that is ready for the transformation challenge. “We aim to revolutionize the energy supply system,” explains sales manager Simon Poos, referring to the company’s gridBox product. gridBox is a hatbox-sized gateway module running a sophisticated software system that interfaces with the company’s gridX cloud platform to process millions of data points daily. It is used by businesses and households to monitor and manage their use of self-generated electricity.
Sweden, like Germany, is proactively engaging with the energy transition. As the official Partner Country of HANNOVER MESSE 2018 it will be fielding a strong lineup of companies at the show, including a good many with digital energy stories to tell. Flexibility and digitization are the keys to transitioning Sweden’s energy system to 100 percent renewable energy. “Looking at transmission, it’s obvious that intelligent, digitized networks are fundamental to achieving tomorrow’s sustainable energy supply system,” says Dr. Verena Adamheit, the German-Swedish Chamber of Commerce project director in charge of Sweden’s Partner Country showcase at the upcoming HANNOVER MESSE. “We will also need to harness the full potential of digital solutions in industry and in building technical systems if we are to achieve efficiency gains. The same sorts of considerations hold true for the transport sector and energy storage: the continued electrification of society will simply not be possible without digital solutions.” According to Dr. Adamheit, Sweden has a “strong tradition in IT and was an early adopter of digital technologies thanks to forward-looking companies like Ericsson.” Sweden was, she said, also one of the first countries to start expanding its broadband infrastructure and continues to push ahead with the development of a bold digitization strategy. Sweden also has a very positive investment climate. It invests heavily in R&D, and its population is by and large very tech-savvy and open to technological innovation and new digital technologies. This combination of factors is what made possible the “Swedish technology miracle” that has brought the world such big names as Skype, Spotify, Klarna and iZettle. In fact, in many segments, Sweden is way ahead of the rest of the world. For example, it has already completed the rollout of smart metering, meaning the way is now clear for the rapid further development of smart home applications, intelligent grid monitoring, and electric mobility. Dr. Adamheit confirms that Sweden will be presenting a number of highly promising new digital business models at HANNOVER MESSE 2019.
HANNOVER MESSE – Get new technology first!
HANNOVER MESSE is the world’s leading trade fair for industrial technology. With its core focus on “Integrated Industry – Industrial Intelligence”, it covers the full range of digitization solutions for tomorrow’s manufacturing and energy systems. HANNOVER MESSE will next be held in 2019, when it will feature six parallel shows – IAMD (Integrated Automation, Motion & Drives), Digital Factory, Energy, Industrial Supply, ComVac and Research & Technology – as well as special showcases for startups and career starters, plus over 90 conferences and forums. HANNOVER MESSE 2019 will run from 1 to 5 April 2019 in Hannover, Germany, and will put the spotlight on Sweden as its official Partner Country.
Deutsche Messe AG
As one of the world’s foremost organizers of capital goods trade fairs, Deutsche Messe (Hannover, Germany) stages a rich array of events at venues in Germany and around the globe. With 2017 revenue of 356 million euros, Deutsche Messe ranks among Germany’s top five tradeshow producers. The company’s portfolio features such world-class events as (in alphabetical order) CeMAT (intralogistics and supply chain management), didacta (education), DOMOTEX (carpets and other floor coverings), HANNOVER MESSE (industrial technology), INTERSCHUTZ (fire and rescue services, civil protection, safety and security), LABVOLUTION (lab technology) and LIGNA (woodworking, wood processing, forestry). Deutsche Messe also stages trade fairs at other German venues, for example parts2clean (industrial parts cleaning) and SurfaceTechnology (surface treatment). The company also regularly hosts a number of internationally renowned events by third parties, among which are AGRITECHNICA (agricultural machinery) and EuroTier (animal production), both of which are staged by the German Agricultural Society (DLG), EMO (machine tools; staged by the German Machine Tool Builders’ Association, VDW), EuroBLECH (sheet metal working; staged by MackBrooks) and IAA Commercial Vehicles (transport, logistics and mobility; staged by the German Association of the Automotive Industry, VDA). Deutsche Messe’s portfolio also comprises events in Australia, Canada, China, Indonesia, Italy, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey and the USA. These include shows in the following fields: Automotive, ICT & Digital Business, Manufacturing and Processing Industries, Energy & Logistics and Metal Processing. With more than1,200 employees and a network of 58 sales partners, Deutsche Messe is present in more than100 countries.
