The renewable energy sector has paid for its success with radical changes to regulations and incentives available. The sharp rise in photovoltaic panel installation exceeded all expectations and forced the government to rethink its strategy. The fact remains that European 2020 green growth objectives are both very ambitious and legally binding, which means that a very smart strategy will be needed to achieve them.

Nevertheless, the success of solar photovoltaic and wind energy systems has thrown up interesting challenges in terms of grid management. Italy is now generating more than 10,000 MW of non-continuous power, creating problems of a nature that were not expected to become quite so pressing, quite so quickly.  This is where "smart grids" come in. Using a two-way digital communication network, they have the potential to match variable demand for electricity with production that is supplied increasingly from sources which are not directly governable. For this reason, it was decided to spotlight the issue of "smart grids" at the 2011 edition of Keyenergy, extending the focus to "smart cities" in particular, and highlight the various solutions (illumination, home appliances, electrical vehicles...) that are being perfected in Italy and abroad.

Another issue that has come back on the agenda of late is energy efficiency. High oil prices and uncertainty in the global economy have forced people and businesses to start looking for energy-saving solutions. The current reform of "white certificates" may be pivotal in significantly rationalizing energy consumption and create benefits for businesses in the sector, end users and the country in general.

"Keyenergy 2011" aims to create a forum for industry and local authorities, where they can study, showcase and deepen their understanding of developments in technology and regulations.  The array of options on offer varies from renewable sources to the efficient use of energy, provided by businesses both large and small who are increasingly venturing into this area of the market.  A new entry at Keyenergy 2011 is the focus on "Smart and Sustainable Cities". Products and solutions suited to the new context will be unveiled, whilst a series of conferences and seminars will be held to take a closer look at the associated regulatory framework and system of incentives available.

Gianni Silvestrini - President of the Technical and Scientific Committee and Scientific, Director of the Kyoto Club

Download the card of Key Energy 2011