Review of E-world 2026

17.02.2026

E-world energy & water 2026 in Essen has once again shown where the energy industry currently stands and, above all, where it is heading.

AI and digitalization have arrived in almost all segments. Added to this are the major system issues surrounding grids, resilience, flexibility and storage.

With more than 1,100 exhibitors from 33 countries and a significantly expanded exhibition grounds, E-world underlined its role as the central platform for the European energy industry: more international, larger and thematically broader than ever. Of course, we from Team Energy were also there again with the Bavarian joint stand.

Our overall highlight: the joint stand as an energy hub

For us, the strongest signal of these three days was one thing above all: our joint stand is a place where innovation is created because people come together. Between spontaneous encounters, planned appointments and intensive technical discussions, the stand was constantly in motion. This is exactly where what the industry currently needs most urgently happens: Connecting innovative companies, bringing perspectives together, initiating collaborations and taking the next steps towards practical application together.

"At E-World, it's easy to see what the current topics in the energy sector are. Automated energy management, marketing, administration and AI are now the main topics. Another highlight for me is the personal reunion with cluster partners and old acquaintances from the energy scene. You can also figuratively sense the energy that prevails at our joint stand and to which our trade fair team contributes," says Leonard Höcht.

This "stand energy" was palpable over all three days and was carried by the Bavarian companies at the stand, our partners, guests and a team that not only organizes networking, but lives it.

Day 1: The big trends are put into practice

It was already clear on the first day of the trade fair: transformation is no longer vision, but implementation. Instead of pure visions of the future, solutions that are already working in operations today dominated - from smart network control to data-based processes.

AI & digitalization as a common thread

One leitmotif ran throughout the trade fair: Artificial intelligence and digital tools are becoming the foundation of modern energy systems. At E-world, this was particularly evident in applications such as forecasting, automated processes, data-driven grid planning and digital twins.

Smart energy, platforms & networked system architectures

Platform models, cloud-based infrastructures, smart metering and digital marketplaces, which will shape the system architecture of tomorrow, were also present. The aim is to ensure greater transparency, better controllability and faster responsiveness in operation.

Hydrogen: development picks up speed - with a reality check

At the same time, hydrogen was visibly present: infrastructure, storage, grids and industrial applications were intensively discussed. At the same time, there was more focus on the framework that enables scaling, i.e. investment security, regulation and market ramp-up conditions.

Day 2: Forum insights on AI, storage, grids & smart metering

The second day was dedicated to the specialist forums and therefore focused on specific implementation topics that network operators, municipal utilities and industry deal with on a daily basis. In the programme, AI was not just a buzzword, but was discussed as a tool for transformation - from intelligent forecasts to the optimization of complex energy systems. The broad range of topics officially highlighted by E-world also shows that the industry has an international stage for this: AI-supported solutions, digital twins, platforms and IT tools have long been part of the mainstream.

Integration, safety and monitoring for battery storage systems

Another top topic was battery storage and its secure system integration as a flexibility anchor, as grid support and as a building block of resilient supply. The fact that storage technologies are regarded as an important part of the E-world spectrum is also reflected in the trade fair focal points.

Europe's energy future between the electricity gap, stability and strategic navigation

The balancing act between decarbonization and security of supply became clear in many discussions. According to industry observers, it is precisely this focus on controllability, risk management, stability and financing that is a hallmark of E-world 2026: less glossy vision, more "operation and implementation".

Smart metering & digitalization as a system requirement

Smart metering, metering systems, market communication and billing solutions were strongly represented. As the basis for flexibility, transparency and efficient processes in day-to-day business. This also shows that E-world explicitly identifies digital tools and metering systems as central fields of the trade fair.

Day 3: Meetings, partnerships and visible industry energy

In addition to the last appointments, the third day was also about summing up and what is not on any agenda: personal exchange. Many highlights were not created on the stage, but at the stand, in the aisles and in conversations.

E-world 2026 confirmed what many companies are already experiencing in their everyday lives: AI-supported processes, automated energy management, digital platforms and smart meter infrastructures are key levers for the coming years.

At the same time, the focus is shifting to the big "system issues": grids, stability, resilience and financing - in other words, what really makes implementation possible.

And for us, the strongest result once again remains: at the joint stand, we connect innovative companies, network them with relevant players and create a space in which trade fair contacts become real collaborations. You can find an insight into the networking at the joint stand in our picture slide.

You weren't there or we missed you?

Then we look forward to hearing from you and to continuing the exchange after E-world.