Vicenza. SSEC (Storage & Solar Expo Conference), a trade fair organized by IEG (Italian Exhibition Group) in collaboration with Meneghini & Associati and with the support of Italia Solare, and entirely dedicated to photovoltaics and energy storage systems, is entering the heart of the two-day conference, scheduled for September 22nd and 23rd at the Vicenza Exhibition Center, presenting the content that will accompany the first edition.
Alongside a highly specialized, vertical exhibition area designed to foster direct dialogue between operators, companies, designers, installers, investors, and large energy users, SSEC will offer a conference program, including keynote speeches, roundtable discussions, and fireside chats dedicated to the sector's key focuses. The program will focus on four macro-thematic areas: solar buildings and energy retrofitting of buildings; agrivoltaics and new models for integrating energy and agriculture; energy and industrial competitiveness; and storage, flexibility, and digitalization to support renewables.
SSEC's program is designed to interpret market developments not only from a technological perspective, but also from an industrial, regulatory, and economic perspective. Its goal is to provide operators with concrete tools to interpret ongoing transformations and identify new development opportunities. The four thematic areas are the result of a process of listening to the Northeast's business community and the concerns expressed by businesses, operators, trade associations, and supply chain stakeholders. These are issues of particular concern to the market today, highlighting the need to concretely address the challenges of energy efficiency, industrial competitiveness, the integration of renewables, and security of supply.
The events of September 22rd
The thematic itinerary will open on the opening day of September 22nd with SolarBuilding, an event curated by Italia Solare and part of the annual tour dedicated to photovoltaic and energy efficiency professionals. The focus will be on the role of photovoltaics and self-consumption in the energy retrofitting of buildings, with particular attention to the residential and commercial & industrial segments, investment support tools, the Conto Termico 3.0 (Thermal Account 3.0), the Green Homes Directive, and the opportunities currently available to citizens, businesses, and industry players.
Also on the first day, the discussion will expand to the topic of agrivoltaics, with a session hosted by Legambiente, understood as a model capable of integrating energy production and agricultural profitability on the same land. The focus of the discussion will be on design models, agronomic conditions, the regulatory framework, and business opportunities for agricultural companies, developers, and technology operators.
The events of September 23rd
The second day, which will open with a conference organized by Anie Rinnovabili, will focus on energy storage and, among other topics, the relationship between energy and industrial competitiveness, with a presentation by Elemens. In a scenario marked by price volatility and growing attention to energy costs, the program will address the impact of energy on corporate margins, the role of self-generation, PPAs, photovoltaics, and storage, along with the financial and regulatory tools that can transform energy from a critical cost to a strategic lever for competitiveness.
Completing the program is a debate, hosted by Prospecta Formazione and awarding Professional Training Credits, which will focus on construction, industry, and energy. Agici will also offer an in-depth look at flexibility, digitalization, and storage to support the development of renewable energy sources. This latter topic is crucial to the stability of the electricity system and the growth of renewable energy sources, requiring solutions that balance production and demand, leverage storage systems, enable demand response, and promote increasingly efficient and intelligent energy management.
"With SSEC, we want to create an event that combines industrial vision, technical content, and market concreteness," says Alessandra Astolfi, Global Exhibition Director, Green & Technology Division, IEG. "Photovoltaics and storage systems are now crucial levers for meeting companies' needs for supply, cost stability, and competitiveness. The conference program was created precisely to accompany this transformation, focusing on the issues that are redefining the supply chain: from construction to industry, from agrivoltaics to the flexibility of the energy system. Vicenza and the Triveneto region represent a region with high potential, where industrial demand, innovation, and energy transition can truly converge."
Created in synergy with Key - The Energy Transition Expo, SSEC is a vertical and complementary event, designed to ensure continuity of relations with the market and offer the solar and storage industry a new opportunity for discussion, business, and networking throughout the year. The event is aimed at manufacturers, distributors, EPC contractors, planners, investors, and large energy users, establishing itself as a reference point for an increasingly strategic sector in redefining the global economic balance.
A good initiative for training and credits, but the text seems too general and reiterates concepts: digital integration and flexibility are key, but it's unclear who will pay for the infrastructure. A clearer roadmap for calls for tenders and incentives for small and medium-sized businesses, with practical examples, is needed.
The section on agrivoltaics and storage is interesting, but it seems to me that the design models are not well explained. It would have been useful to see concrete cases and examples of energy balances and costs, to better understand how local regulations integrate with PPAs and thermal accounts.
It seems like an interesting event for the sector, with many useful topics for companies and technicians. However, the description lacks practical information, especially regarding how the training courses and contact information will work. It would be helpful to have more dates, maps, and contact information for participants and local operators.