press release KEY - DAILY NEWS – 5TH MARCH

KEY ENERGY SUMMIT: RENEWABLES, DATA CENTRES AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES IN THE ENERGY FUTURE

New scenarios, emerging critical issues, and the major challenges facing the energy market were outlined today at KEY 2026 by Italian Exhibition Group at the KEY ENERGY SUMMIT, with the presentation, in the presence of Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, Minister for the Environment and Energy Security, of the study “Energy transition, between global scenarios, technologies and governance” conducted by Althesys (TEHA group). The research analysed the European electricity system, energy policies and market developments with insights into technologies, infrastructure, artificial intelligence and Data Centres. Currently in Italy, data centre connection requests to the grid have reached 69 GW: in 2024, data centres in the country consumed less than 2% of electricity demand, but forecasts for 2035 predict between 7.4% and 12.7% of final electricity consumption (Snam-Terna 2024 data). Other topics included the decoupling of gas prices and the single national electricity price. The presentation of the research was followed by a two-session round table with proposals from the Associations, attended by Gianni Vittorio Armani, president of Elettricità Futura, Andrea Cristini, president of ANIE Rinnovabili, Simone Togni, president of ANEV, Paolo Rocco Viscontini, president of ITALIA SOLARE, Paolo Picco, president of FEDERIDROELETTRICA, Giacomo Cantarella, president of ASSOESCO, Dario Di Santo, director of FIRE, Alberto Dossi, president of H2IT, Attilio Piattelli, president of Coordinamento FREE, and Fabio Pressi, president of Motus-E. The event opened with institutional greetings from Corrado Peraboni, CEO of Italian Exhibition Group, and Maria Sicilia Salvadores, Head of Electricity Systems & Markets Division of the IEA International Energy Agency. The conclusions were presented by Vinicio Mosè Vigilante, CEO of GSE, and Lennart van Walsum, Global Solar Council’s Director of EMEIA & Americas.

INTERNATIONAL DIALOGUE ON HYDROGEN: BEST PRACTICES AND FUTURE PROSPECTS

The event, organised by Hannover Fairs International, Hydrogen + Fuel Cells Europe, ITKAM, Die Gas- Und Wasserstoffwirtschaft, H2IT, and moderated by Cristina Maggi (H2IT), was an opportunity to bring Italy and Germany together in an in-depth discussion on the topic of hydrogen in Europe. The opening speech by Benjamin Hanna (Deputy Ambassador, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Italian Republic) was followed by keynote speeches from Fabrizio Penna (MASE), Patricia Schikora (Deputy Head of Division VIIIC4 - International Hydrogen Ramp-Up, Bilateral cooperation on hydrogen infrastructure, German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy) and Luigi Crema (Chair of the Hydrogen Europe Research Board & Vice President H2IT), focusing on the state of the art of hydrogen and future prospects. At the end of the event, Giuseppe Galata (VNG Italia S.r.l.), Raoul Raffagli (FluxSwiss Sagl), Luca Rofi (Ansaldo Green Tech S.p.A.) and Anna Monticelli (Intesa Sanpaolo) took part in a round table discussion on successful experiences in global collaboration in the hydrogen market.

EPC AND FINANCE, DISCUSSION ON THE FUTURE OF RENEWABLES

Plant construction and the financing conditions for projects are two strategic elements for the development of renewables. This was the topic of discussion at the event “EPC and Finance: the new phase of renewables”, organised by Elemens and KEY, which brought together institutions, industry and the banking system to analyse the new scenario in the energy sector. The conference opened with a keynote speech by Elemens on the context in which RES and BESS operate in the Italian market – which in 2025 recorded authorised renewable energy projects, particularly solar and wind power, for a total of 9.5 GW and 1.5 GW respectively  – and also explored regulatory developments, construction challenges and financing constraints.  This was followed by three round tables: the institutional panel, with contributions from Federico Boschi, head of the energy department at MASE, Davide Valenzano, director of regulation and markets at GSE, and Mauro Caprabianca, head of territorial planning at Terna, discussed market design and regulatory developments, with references to FER-X, FER-Z, MACSE and Capacity, also in light of the geopolitical situation and the Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA). The panel on EPCs addressed the critical issues in the construction and maintenance of renewable energy plants and storage systems, while the panel on finance focused on bankability, leverage and credit flexibility. Companies and financial institutions participated.

INNOVATIVE IDEAS FOR THE ENERGY FUTURE: THE “LORENZO CAGNONI” AWARD GIVEN OUT AT KEY 2026

Innovation and technological excellence for the energy transition were awarded yesterday at KEY 2026 with the Lorenzo Cagnoni Innovation Award given to the seven exhibiting companies that stood out for their cutting-edge projects and to the seven most innovative start-ups in the Innovation District, in each of the seven product sectors covered by the event (solar, wind, hydrogen, energy efficiency, energy storage, e-mobility and Sustainable City). The plaque was presented to the exhibitors by: Maurizio Ermeti, president of Italian Exhibition Group, Alessandra Astolfi, Global Exhibition Director of IEG's Green & Technology division, Giorgia Caprioli, KEY project manager, and Francesco Naso, Secretary General at Motus-E. The following companies received awards: IGreen System, Meteodyn, Clivet, CRRC Zhuzhou Institute, Alperia Green Future, Dragone Energy and ENEA. The Start-ups received their plaques from Maurizio Ermeti, Alessandra Astolfi, Giorgia Caprioli, Francesca Zadro, Global Start-up Program at the Italian Trade Agency, Fabrizio Tollari, Head of Energy and Climate Unit at ART-ER, Nicoletta Amodio, Executive Adviser of research and innovation at Confindustria and Director of Fondazione Mai, and Gabriele Ferrieri, president of ANGI (National Association of Young Innovators). Receiving the awards were: Taleta, Northernlight, I-Tes, CO2CO, AI-Cure, Powandgo and Enercade.

THE ELECTRIC CAR CHARGING NETWORK, THE SITUATION IN ITALY AND EUROPE

The spread of electric mobility also depends on developing an efficient and widespread charging network. This was the focus of the conference entitled “The electric car charging network: the state of the art in Italy and Europe”, organised by GSE and Motus-E, which brought together operators, institutions, regulators and dealers to take stock of the opportunities and critical issues linked to the development of charging infrastructure. The event opened with a welcome address by Fabio Pressi, President of Motus-E, and was attended by Chris Heron, Secretary General of E-mobility Europe, Michele Benini, Director of the Energy Systems Development Department at RSE, Francesco Naso, Secretary General of Motus-E, Mario Spagnoli, Head of Digital Platforms and Sustainable Mobility at GSE, and Matteo Gizzi, Head of E-mobility Market Intelligence at Motus-E. The debate addressed several key issues: from the role of CPOs (Charge Point Operators) and DSOs (Distribution System Operators) to tariff dynamics and fuel station infrastructure. Space was also given to the National Infrastructure Plan for the Charging of Electrically Powered Vehicles (PNIRE) and motorway tenders, in order to understand the current state of the charging network and its prospects for development. Emanuele Regalini (ARERA), Elena Airoldi (IONITY), Federico Caleno (IPlanet), Marco Carvelli (Edison Next), Ambrogio Cassini (Repower) and Simone Tripepi (Enel X Way) also took part in the discussion. During the meeting, several scenarios for the future of electric mobility in Italy also emerged.

ABOUT KEY 2026

Event: International trade show; Organisation: Italian Exhibition Group S.p.A.; Frequency: annual; Edition: 4^th; Dates: 4-6 March 2026; mail keyenergy@iegexpo.it; Website: http://www.key-expo.com; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/keyexpo/; Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/key_expo/; LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/keyenergy/

PRESS CONTACT KEY - ITALIAN EXHIBITION GROUP

head of media & corporate communication: Elisabetta Vitali; press office manager: Pier Francesco Bellini, Marco Forcellini ; international press office coordinator: Silvia Giorgi; press office coordinator: Luca Paganin; press office specialists: Nicoletta Evangelisti, Mirko Malgieri; media@iegexpo.it

MEDIA AGENCY: Smartitaly Communications

Sara Scatena, s.scatena@smartitaly.it, mob. +39 338 7836985; Francesca Pericolo, f.pericolo@smartitaly.it, mob. +39 327 986 1860