Four chapters on how ees Europe evolved from a small exhibition alongside Intersolar Europe to become Europe’s largest and most international exhibition for batteries and energy storage systems. Read in chapter 3 how ees Europe was able to establish itself so quickly as Europe's leading exhibition for energy storage systems.
2014, ees and Intersolar Europe combined for the first time
The cut of EEG subsidies was a heavy blow to Germany’s solar industry – the sector was forced to reinvent itself. Fortunately, other solar markets, such North America, were beginning to flourish. However, in addition to the expansion into the global marketplace, the industry was governed by other, completely different topics. The trend towards energy storage, the search for new business models and the on-site consumption and direct distribution of solar power were changing the rules of the industry. The exhibition organizers Solar Promotion GmbH and FWTM responded by launching a new exhibition, ees (electrical energy storage). The ees AWARD – the innovation prize of the storage industry – has also been awarded from the very beginning. Together, ees and Intersolar Europe provided Europe’s largest industry platform for storage systems right from day one. Among the storage system providers at Intersolar Europe are Varta, Sonnenbatterie and Hoppecke. The very first ees exhibitors included ads-tec, Alpha Energy Storage Solution, ASD Sonnenspeicher, Battery Supplies, BMZ, CALB (China Aviation Lithium Battery), Senec (then Deutsche Energieversorgung GmbH), E3/DC, Energy Depot, Fenecon, Frankensolar (now Memodo), Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT), Narada Europe, Proton Motor Fuel Cell and Solax Power, to name but a few.
More and more, the focus shifts to integrated solutions that make a full, 24/7 supply with renewable energy possible all year round. Consequently, in 2018, The smarter E Europe is created as a innovation platform for the entire new energy world: In 2018, The smarter E Europe unites four energy exhibitions for renewable and smart energy solutions ‒ Intersolar Europe, ees Europe, Power2Drive Europe (international exhibition for charging infrastructure and electromobility) and EM-Power Europe (international exhibition for energy management and integrated energy solutions). With the thematic expansion, the networking of industries and sectors and the development of the platform for the new energy world, the organizers once again strike a chord and prove to be innovators and thought leaders of the industry.
2019, dynamic market developments boost exhibition’s success
In total, around 470 suppliers of energy storage systems and technologies presented their innovative products, solutions and services to around 50,000 visitors. That year, the main focus was on the intelligent integration of storage devices into the energy system and the coupling of the electricity, heating and mobility sectors. In total, there were over 1,300 exhibitors across 100,000 sqm. The smarter E Europe had become the continent’s largest platform for the energy industry – just one year after its launch.
Chapter 4: How resilience and Imagination can turn crises into new opportunities
Chapter 2: Renewables become a main pillar of our energy system