Scec: Storage & Solar Expo Conference kicks off in Vicenza

Vicenza – The SSEC – Storage & Solar Expo Conference, a B2B event focusing on photovoltaics, storage, and energy management, opened this morning at the Vicenza Exhibition Center. Organized by IEG – Italian Exhibition Group in collaboration with Meneghini&Associati and with the support of Italia Solare, the conference, conferences, and networking events today and tomorrow will bring together companies in the supply chain, associations, institutions, analysts, and experts, shedding light on the production system's new energy needs.

A compact and highly specialized format that finds fertile and significant ground in Vicenza due to its industrial density as well as its development and awareness of the issue of renewables.

"IEG – Italian Exhibition Group is a leading event organizer, while also overseeing several strategic supply chains for Made in Italy, including the energy transition sector. To be a European leader in this field, it was natural and strategic to hold an event, in continuity with KEY – The Energy Transition Expo, in Vicenza. It's no coincidence that we're here with SSEC – Storage & Solar Expo Conference at the end of September 2026. In fact, a few weeks ago we inaugurated the new pavilion at Vicenza Expo Centre, which saw the Group invest 60 million euros," stated Marco Carniello, Chief Business Officer of IEG – Italian Exhibition Group. "But that's not all. Vicenza, along with the Veneto region, is the most densely industrialized and manufacturing area in Italy, and therefore it was necessary to bring an event here that could support the region in its acceleration towards energy independence. We know how much energy costs impact companies, so SSEC is in Vicenza to support Veneto and Northeast businesses in becoming more competitive, achieving greater energy autonomy, and accelerating their growth."

THE SCENARIO: VENETO AND THE ITALIAN MARKET

The numbers, as shown by data processed by Italia Solare, reveal a region already at the forefront of the transformation of the Italian energy system.

Photovoltaic. In the first half of 2026, Veneto was the third Italian region for new photovoltaic capacity installed, with 306 MW, behind Lombardy and Sicily, and the second for number of new plants, behind only Lombardy. This regional figure is part of a national market that continues to grow and, at the same time, is changing in structure. As of June 30, 2026, 2,25 million photovoltaic systems were connected in Italy, totaling 46,6 GW, with 3.093 MW of new capacity in the first half of the year, a 10% increase. The composition of demand is particularly changing: compared to the same period in 2025, the residential segment recorded a 23% contraction, while the Commercial & Industrial segment grew by 22%, highlighting the increasing importance of photovoltaics in companies' energy and competitiveness strategies.

Storage. The same trend applies to storage systems, which are increasingly crucial to the efficient and flexible management and use of energy produced from renewable sources. As of June 30, 2026, Italy had 943.797 storage systems, with a total capacity of 19.334 MWh and a power output of 7.983 MW. In the first half of the year alone, 60.076 new systems were connected, corresponding to 1.350 MWh of new capacity. In this area too, Veneto is among the leading regions: in the photovoltaic storage segment, it is second in Italy in terms of new installations, with 6.698 systems, and fourth in terms of new capacity, with 97 MWh.

Vicenza's decision is also part of the renewable energy growth path that is affecting the entire Veneto region. The region has set a target of 5.828 MW of additional renewable energy capacity by 2030. In 2026, the Region also advanced the Plan for the Identification of Terrestrial Acceleration Zones (PIZAT), adopted by the Regional Council on July 28th and primarily targeting artificial and built-up areas, industrial areas, infrastructure, parking lots, and other artificial sites. At the same time, the Regional Council approved a bill identifying additional areas suitable for renewable energy and forwarded it to the Regional Council for legislative consideration.

This year, photovoltaic installations nationwide reached a record level, with a 25% growth, and storage also saw a significant acceleration. Veneto is a key player in this energy transition: it has favored the adoption of photovoltaics in local commercial and industrial businesses,” emphasizes Alessandra Astolfi, Global Exhibition Director, Green & Technology Division, IEG – Italian Exhibition Group – SSEC – Storage & Solar Expo Conference was created precisely to connect businesses, stakeholders, and experts, and offer concrete tools to streamline authorization processes and improve the energy efficiency of manufacturing companies.

WORK STARTS ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE FAIR

The inauguration was also attended by Ettore de Conciliis de Iorio, Attorney at Law, Head of the Secretariat of the Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (MASE), and Senator Claudio Barbaro, who stated: "We chose to participate in SSEC primarily by giving it particular importance. These events combine commercial opportunities with opportunities for analysis, discussion, participation, and proposals.

These are all aspects the Ministry of the Environment is closely monitoring. Energy is a crucial and strategic issue, and the entire political authority is addressing it with concern, interest, and attention. Regarding SSEC, which brings together the best players in the sector here in Vicenza, a particularly relevant aspect is the reflection of a country that wants to actively participate in a complex, heterogeneous regulatory and authorization process, which at times even brings into conflict various relevant public interests in the effort to find a synthesis that benefits industrial production segments, but above all, the country, its ability to free itself from energy supply needs, and its ability to build a leading position and a future. We intended to achieve this through a public-private partnership.

Clearly, there are conflicts and disputes, but a political class, while considering all the interests at stake, must also have a profound sense of perspective and future. I believe this Ministry, which has no particular ideologies, is proving itself up to the task, but we are all aware that the challenge is complex and that more can always be done.

Vicenza Mayor Giacomo Possamai also attended the Fair and said he was "delighted that IEG has brought an event like SSEC – Storage & Solar Expo Conference to its rightful home. Renewable energy," he emphasized, "is not only essential for the environmental and energy transition, but is also a necessity for our country, one of the most expensive countries for energy and one that lacks raw materials.

Therefore, the energy transition represents an extraordinary opportunity, and investing in solar panels and energy storage systems is one of the strongest levers we have to support the production system. And this is precisely why it's important to have a trade fair like SSEC in Vicenza, a city with a strong manufacturing vocation.

A position confirmed by Sara Baldinato, Vicenza City Councilor for the Environment, Energy Policies, and Heritage: "In an era where decarbonization is the buzzword, companies obviously need a strong point of reference. The City must be this point of reference not only for companies, but also for private individuals. It's therefore important that, in addition to KEY – The Energy Transition Expo, there is also the SSEC – Storage & Solar Expo Conference in the region, a highly industrialized area, a new event where companies can share what they do and what can be done in terms of decarbonization and green policies."

With the launch of the conferences, starting with SolarBuilding, curated by Italia Solare, the event has entered the heart of its program. "Our collaboration with IEG – Italian Exhibition Group has been successful for many years, and when we were asked to support SSEC – Storage & Solar Expo Conference, we had no hesitation," emphasized Paolo Rocco Viscontini, President of Italia Solare. "For us, it also represents continuity with KEY – The Energy Transition Expo, and is therefore an opportunity for all enthusiasts and industry professionals to resume the dialogue begun in March and prepare for the next edition.

But at the same time, it's certainly an opportunity to take stock of various industry issues that we, as Italia Solare, are advancing. Therefore, this further opportunity and opportunity is welcome. At Italia Solare, we're very focused on integrating photovoltaics and storage within buildings as energy producers, so much so that this year's SSEC will feature our own SolarBuilding event, which focuses specifically on developing energy efficiency in buildings, with a particular focus, for us, on photovoltaics and storage. We're therefore seeking to contribute to the energy transition in buildings, which represents a significant portion of consumption for all Italians.

A desire to foster effective and concrete networking has been SSEC's DNA from the beginning, as confirmed by Vittoria Muraro, CEO of Meneghini&Associati: "The strategic and critical nature of energy is now a shared heritage of companies of all sizes and sectors. SSEC was born from listening to real market needs and brings this dialogue to the heart of one of the country's most important production systems. Vicenza is a natural location due to its industrial vocation, capacity for innovation, and geographic centrality. The goal is to build a place here where companies, professionals, and stakeholders can meet, discuss, and transform concrete energy needs into new development and investment opportunities."

THE PROGRAM FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND TOMORROW

This afternoon, at 17 pm, a technical roundtable promoted by Confindustria Vicenza, Confindustria Brescia, and Confindustria Alto Adriatico will be held (a dedicated press release will follow).
Tomorrow, Wednesday, September 23, the conferences promoted by ANIE Rinnovabili, Elemens, AGICI, and Prospecta Formazione will offer an opportunity to explore the topics of storage, energy autonomy, and competitiveness.
SSEC – Storage & Solar Expo Conference is an event sponsored by: Province of Vicenza, Municipality of Vicenza, Chamber of Commerce of Vicenza, CNA Veneto Ovest, Confartigianato Imprese Vicenza, Confindustria Alto Adriatico, Confindustria Vicenza, Order of Engineers of the Province of Vicenza.