This week, Munich wasn’t just about beer and Brezel. It was buzzing with energy professionals attending The Smarter E Europe, the continent’s largest alliance of energy exhibitions, including Intersolar, ees – electrical energy storage, Power2Drive and EMPower_energy.
Eurelectric landed in the Bavarian capital to launch the new Grids for Speed Business Hub, join several high-level panel discussions, and bring our signature spark to the exhibition floor. From grid investment to industry electrification – and a deep dive into electric mobility – we had a lot to say.
A new Eurelectric Business hub
On the sidelines of the fair, we launched our new Grids for Speed Business Hub at Siemens’ headquarters. Adding to our growing family of platforms – EVision, Digitopia, and the European 24/7 Hub – this new initiative is focused on collaborating with key stakeholders to future-proof Europe’s power infrastructure.
As shown by the recent massive blackout in the Iberian Peninsula, Europe can no longer afford to neglect its power grid.
To support Europe’s rapid electrification, distribution grids must be resilient, future-ready, and capable of handling growing loads. This means investing up to €67 billion per year until 2050. But with smart planning and the use of Grid Enhancing Technologies (GETs) – from better forecasting to digital asset management – costs could be reduced by 18% (~€13 billion annually).
During our Hub’s inaugural event, contributions from the EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) offered insight into the upcoming grid package, while companies like Google, Copperleaf, Kaernten Netz GmbH, Bayernwerk, and ESB Networks shared grid-planning challenges, best practices, and success stories.
E-mobility: from EVs to HDVs
Over in the e-mobility zone, our Energy Policy, Climate & Sustainability Officer Gabrielle Clark presented our EVision report in partnership with EY during the session “V1X and V2X Business Models Integrating Grids and Electric Vehicles” as well as in a fireside chat at GreenFlux’s exhibition booth.
If you missed the launch last March, here’s the big idea: electric vehicles (EVs) can be more than just clean transport—they can also support the grid. With smart charging and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) tech, EVs can store excess renewable electricity and release it back into the grid when needed. By 2030, Europe will have 114 TWh of EV battery capacity – enough to power 30 million homes annually.
And it’s not just good for the grid—it saves money for drivers too. In the Netherlands, a compact EV owner could save up to €515/year, or €2,700/year for a large EV. Similar trends are seen in France, Spain, Sweden, and Germany.
But that’s not all. In a packed Smarter E booth, we also tackled the electrification of heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) – the “big boys” of transport during our EVision hub meeting. In our recent joint letter with the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), we highlighted the challenges and opportunities that come with integrating these energy-hungry giants into the power system.
With contributions by Daimler Truck AG, Milence, Siemens, and GreenFlux, we explored:
- The grid impact of large-scale HDV charging
- Smart charging, V2G, and flexibility solutions
- Policy, investment, and infrastructure gaps
- Business models for cross-sector freight electrification
Industrial Electrification
Last but not least, our Senior Advisor Ioana Petcu chaired the session “Enhancing EU Industrial Competitiveness Through Large-Scale Electrification”, dedicated to exploring the benefits, challenges and solutions of electrification.
Electrification can cut emissions, improve efficiency, and boost economic resilience—especially given Europe’s reliance on imported fossil fuels. Mature electric technologies like heat pumps and electric arc furnaces are already proving cost-competitive and capable of meeting most industrial process heat demands.
Speakers called for stronger collaboration between industry and utilities, noting that electrification isn’t just about replacing fuels—it’s about transforming entire systems. That means digitalisation, smart grid integration, and coordinated long-term planning.
And we’re not stopping here. Eurelectric will continue this conversation at Power Summit 2025, taking place on 3–4 June in Brussels, where we’ll launch a new study showing concrete pathways to electrify European industry. Make sure you register to see the launch in person!
Back from Munich, eyes on Brussels
After an intense week in Munich, our team is back in Brussels, fully charged and gearing up for Power Summit 2025 in less than one month. Make sure you register to continue the conversation of electrification of industry, energy security, the role of power grids as well as new power demanders like data centers – and much more!
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Disclaimer: This article is for communication purposes only and may not reflect Eurelectric positions. Any positions taken in this article shall not be attributable to Eurelectric’s official positioning. Official Eurelectric positions are reflected only in position papers published here.