Kick-off E-world 2026: Focus on Europe's energy future
22.09.2025
This year's kick-off-event for E-world 2026 took place from 16 to 18 September under the motto ‘Navigating Europe's Energy Future’.
Over three days, 18 high-ranking speakers discussed the opportunities and challenges of the European energy supply. The digital event of Europe's leading energy trade fair thus opens the debate ahead of the exhibition in February.
Dr. Roman Dudenhausen, CEO of con|energy ag, opened the first kick-off day with an impressive fireside chat with Vitalii Zaychenko, CEO of Ukrainian energy supplier Ukrenergo. The conversation made it clear that Ukraine is keeping its power grid stable despite massive attacks and was even able to export electricity to Europe during the summer months.
Since start of the war, the energy supply in the Ukraine has undergone fundamental change: moving away from centralised structures towards a decentralised system. Power plants, battery storage and solar energy, Vitalii Zaychenko reports, are playing an increasingly important role in this development. In addition, the CEO of the Ukrainian energy provider emphasised that close cooperation with European grid operators has proven to be a key factor in ensuring stability and unlocking new market opportunities.
In the panel discussion that followed the fireside chat, the focus shifted to the European electricity grids. Together with Dr. Dirk Biermann (COO, 50Hertz Transmission); Pierre Bernard, (Founder, Bernard Energy Advocacy); Oliver Schubert (Partner, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners); and José Novais Gonçalves (Head of Networks Strategy, EDP Group) Dr. Roman Dudenhausen discussed the central importance of a strong European electricity grid. The participants agreed: Europe is on the right track, but there are still tasks and challenges ahead.
To create a future-proof energy system, the following are needed: targeted investments, stable supply chains that secure the expansion of renewable technologies, and increased cooperation at European level to make the most of synergies.
A look at natural gas and the municipal level
Is natural gas a bridge, a barrier, or both at the same time in the European energy transition? This question was the focus of the second day of the E-world Kick-off. In a fireside chat, moderator Ludwig Möhring (CEO, Federal Association of Natural Gas, Crude Oil and Geoenergy) together with Alexander Lücke (Deputy Director, General Energy Security, Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy) discussed the future role of natural gas and the significance of an EU gas procurement strategy. This introductory conversation was followed by a panel discussion with Matthias Dohrn (President Global Procurement, BASF); Michael Lewis (CEO, Uniper); Holger Lösch (Deputy Managing Director, Federation of German Industries); and Andy Drummond (EVP Strategy, Woodside Energy).
On the final day of the kick-off, attention turned to the municipalities and SMEs. With the guiding question ‘Local, innovative, together – how municipalities and SMEs are shaping the future of energy’ it became clear that the energy transition is a collective task, requiring local resources to be pooled and deployed in a targeted manner. How can municipalities and SMEs work together to drive innovation, achieve climate targets and harness regional strengths? Johann Maximilian Voß (Energy policy advisor, Royal Danish Embassy Berlin) provided initial answers to this question in his presentation, focusing in particular on Danish municipalities.
A discussion round, moderated by Manuel Schrepfer (Unit Manager, BDEW) with Sebastian Bolay (Head of Energy, Environment, Industry, DIHK – German chamber of Industry and Commerce), Robert Brandt (Managing Director, Renewable Energy Agency), Timm Fuchs (Deputy, German Association of Towns and Municipalities) and Thorsten Seifert (Head of Corporate Development, Trianel) took a closer look at the question.
Recordings of the Kick-off Days
The recordings of all Kick-off days are available in both German and English via YouTube at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEwlTUdgE7b3-sMkCzcLC2uhESjvG0HYl.
