The event connected utilities, technology providers, public authorities, researchers, start-ups and EU-funded projects. More than 700 international exhibitors and 500 speakers contributed to the programme.
Discussions and demonstrations addressed:
- modernisation and digitalisation of electricity grids;
- integration of renewable energy;
- energy storage and system flexibility;
- sector coupling and transport integration;
- decentralised energy systems;
- energy security and resilience;
- regulation, investment and new business models.
The EU Projects Zone enabled European initiatives to present their results and exchange experience with energy-sector organisations.
Main lessons
The event reinforced the need to plan the energy transition as an integrated system. Individual technologies could not be assessed in isolation because their value depended on infrastructure, demand, system flexibility and interaction with other energy carriers.
For hydrogen planning, this meant considering where hydrogen complemented direct electrification, supported renewable-energy integration or provided storage and flexibility that the wider energy system required.
Practical value
This system-level perspective was relevant to regional authorities preparing energy strategies. It demonstrated why decisions on hydrogen infrastructure needed to be coordinated with electricity grids, renewable generation, transport, industrial demand and other regional development priorities.
Further information
Archived information about the programme and scale of the event remained available through the European Distribution System Operators’ Enlit Europe 2024 page.