Energy costs and climate protection in industry and commerce: decarbXpo launches

A lot is happening in the field energy technology, not least as a result of rapidly rising energy prices. Spurred on by falling costs for renewable energy technologies, innovative storage solutions, intelligent energy management systems and new opportunities are also opening up for industrial and commercial companies.

In order to connect suppliers of new energy solutions and services with industrial users, Messe Düsseldorf has launched a new trade fair format: decarbXpo. It will take place for the first time from 20 to 22 September at the Düsseldorf Exhibition Centre. In future, decarbXpo will also offer companies in the plastics industry exciting information and added value.

We ask Project Director Malte Seifert why decarbXpo is worth a visit and what there is to see.

Mr. Seifert, energy and climate protection topics seem to be omnipresent. Is there really a need for a new trade fair?

Malte Seifert: Two years ago, I wouldn't have been so sure with definite statement, but today I can answer your question with a resounding yes.

What has changed?

Seifert: If we take the global aluminium industry as an example, a clear trend towards sustainability and climate protection could be observed here in recent years due to the disruptive transformation of mobility and the resulting change in the demands of end consumers. COVID-19, the associated decommissioning of entire supply chains and the requirements of the EU's "Fit for 55" package of measures have further intensified this shift and thus pose additional challenges for the entire industry. The industry has stepped up its efforts to ensure sustainability and is working to reduce climate gas emissions. The aim here is to use less energy with the help of innovations, technologies and smart services to meet the energy demand as climate-neutrally as possible. This is where decarbXpo comes in: we bring technology and service providers together with the users.

Can't that also be achieved at the existing trade fairs of the plastics industry?

Seifert: Of course, topics such as energy and decarbonisation have played a major role at trade fairs like K for quite some time. Energy-efficient machines are shown there, for example, and companies specialized on these topic present themselves there. But we are going one step further here: decarbXpo shows a wide range of solutions and is also an information and exchange platform. Among others, solution providers are represented who would not go to a pure plastics, metal or glass trade fair, because their technologies address different user industries in equal measure.

What does that mean in concrete terms for visitors from the plastics industry?

Seifert: This year, decarbXpo will offer a unique overview. On the one hand, we will provide top-class infotainment within the framework of a forum integrated into the trade fair, where, for example, energy management and energy storage solutions will be presented and discussed. Especially with the latter, there are exciting developments in the high-temperature sector. Anyone who listens to one or more of the thematic blocks can already discover initial points of contact for their own company. But there are also interesting solutions to be seen in the area of energy purchasing or peak load shaving, with which companies can reduce their costs and emissions.

Is there also room for real innovations?

Seifert: We have paid special attention to that: We have our own start-up zone and are also cooperating with two network organisations. More than 20 young companies will present their solutions at the fair and in the decarbXpo forum. One exhibitor, for example, offers a machine learning-based solution that allows companies to identify the best and most sustainable projects for offsetting their emissions. Another start-up has developed a method for CO2 capture from ambient air that is said to be ten times cheaper than previous methods. So, there is a lot of potential for networking and we are excited to see what collaborations will result from the fair for our exhibitors, visitors and our own projects at Messe Düsseldorf.