/MUNICH, GERMANY, June 25, 2026, 16:00 CET, RENEWABLE MARKET WATCH™/
Intersolar Europe 2026, the premier global exhibition for the solar industry, was held June 23–25, 2026, at Messe München in Munich, Germany. As a core event within The smarter E Europe hub, the exhibition showcased cutting-edge advancements in photovoltaic (PV) technologies, energy storage solutions, artificial intelligence integration, and grid-forming systems—demonstrating the sector’s technological leadership and growth trajectory.
Spanning three days, The smarter E Europe 2026—Europe’s largest alliance of energy industry exhibitions—concluded on a high note, with full exhibition halls and robust engagement. Messe München served as a global platform for the unveiling of next-generation renewable energy solutions and business models, reinforcing the industry’s commitment to a future powered by sustainable technologies. The event sent a clear message to international stakeholders: renewable energy is central to a reliable, secure, and economically competitive power supply. With 2,650 exhibitors representing 52 countries—many of whom increased their investment in presence and booth space—participants demonstrated market readiness and the sector’s capability to deliver 24/7 clean energy solutions at scale.
Over 66 per cent of exhibitors originated from outside Germany, underscoring the international scope and influence of the event. Exhibitors introduced a diverse array of commercial-ready innovations, including virtual power plants, advanced smart grid and load management systems, intelligent charging infrastructure, next-generation storage solutions, PV hybrid applications, and digital energy management platforms. The event’s technical program launched with four specialist conferences on June 22 and 23, attracting more than 3,000 participants for high-impact knowledge exchange and strategic dialogue on emerging industry trends. Throughout the exhibition, approximately 105,000 professional visitors from 163 countries engaged in cross-sector networking, explored disruptive technologies, and gained critical insights into the evolving global energy landscape.
The exhibition underscored a clear and actionable roadmap for the sector: proven technologies, scalable solutions, and bankable business models are already available to drive the global energy transition. The smarter E Europe brought together four flagship exhibitions—Intersolar Europe, ees Europe, Power2Drive Europe, and EM-Power Europe—along with a comprehensive suite of conferences and side events, fostering an ecosystem of innovation and commercial collaboration. The industry demonstrated strong investor confidence and a forward-looking mindset, with activity spanning all 19 exhibition halls and outdoor areas. This collective enthusiasm reflects the sector’s readiness to catalyse major societal transformation and accelerate the transition to a decentralised, digital, and renewable-powered energy system. As noted by energy expert Dr. Tim Meyer, the global shift toward a new energy paradigm is well underway, and industry stakeholders are positioned to capitalize on the vast opportunities ahead.
Business-Centric Flexibility and Grid Optimisation
A major highlight of the exhibition was the Renewables 24/7 – Secure Energy for a Changing World showcase, which demonstrated future-proof energy system solutions designed for scalability, flexibility, and economic efficiency. The exhibit illustrated how next-generation energy systems—characterised by increased electrification, decentralisation, digitalisation, and system flexibility—are redefining market operations. Rather than relying on a limited number of centralised power plants, tomorrow’s energy landscape will feature millions of interconnected distributed resources, including buildings and electric vehicles that actively participate in energy markets. This shift is already driving measurable reductions in electricity costs, unlocking new business models, and transforming end-users into prosumers. As Bastian Gierull, CEO of Octopus Energy Germany GmbH, emphasised, “The energy transition’s success hinges on intelligent electricity storage, dynamic management, and the ability to leverage low-cost, green power for both grid stability and customer savings.” The showcase also underscored the critical role of electric vehicles and the emerging market for bidirectional charging as flexible, value-adding storage assets for grid operators and commercial users.
Reliability, Resilience, and Economic Performance of Renewables
Current market dynamics confirm that renewable electricity generation is not only more affordable than fossil alternatives, but also significantly reduces external dependencies and exposure to volatile import costs. In Germany, renewables now account for approximately 60 per cent of total electricity production, while the nation spends €80 billion annually on fossil fuel imports. Recent geopolitical tensions have highlighted the strategic vulnerabilities of fossil fuel supply chains and reinforced the commercial rationale for accelerating the adoption of renewables. As Markus Elsässer, founder and CEO of Solar Promotion GmbH, stated, “Fossil fuels are a legacy of the past—renewables deliver reliability, resilience, and efficiency, with a proven business case for continuous investment.” Jens Mohrmann, Managing Director of Freiburg Wirtschaft Touristik und Messe GmbH & Co. KG (FWTM), added, “Our focus on 24/7 renewables demonstrates industry foresight and a commitment to shaping the market of the future.”
Unlocking Economic Growth and Workforce Opportunities
The smarter E Europe alliance provided compelling business evidence for renewables as engines of prosperity, cost reduction, and risk mitigation for both enterprises and households. By curbing the adverse impacts of the climate crisis and lowering energy expenditures, renewable technologies are catalysing new value chains and creating a favourable investment climate. While misconceptions about renewable intermittency persist, expert panel discussions at the event affirmed that societal acceptance is robust, with the remaining barriers largely confined to outdated perceptions held by a minority of policymakers and business leaders.
Policy and Political Validation of the Renewable Business Case
The strategic importance of the exhibition was further underscored by the participation of senior policymakers. Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN), highlighted that the energy transition is now fundamentally about job creation (with 440,000 jobs at stake), economic growth, resilience, and national security, not just climate protection. The event also featured Bavarian State Minister Hubert Aiwanger, who opened the Hydrogen Dialogue Summit, and Barbie Haller of the German Federal Network Agency, further validating the sector’s central role in Europe’s economic and industrial strategy.
For more information and answers to your questions about the European solar and battery energy storage system (BESS) market and related content, you may read here: Europe Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Power Market Outlook 2025 – 2034 and Europe Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Market Outlook 2025 – 2034
For a better understanding of the benefits of using our reports, you may read here: Benefit List – Reports of Renewable Market Watch – 2026
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