GRIDexpo 2025: Messe Düsseldorf launches new international trade fair for smart grids
- The backbone of the energy transition: new trade fair focuses on smart grids
- First GRIDexpo will take place in Düsseldorf from 28–30 October 2025
- ZVEI as a strategic partner: Central German Electro and Digital Industry Association supports new trade fair project
With GRIDexpo – International Trade Fair for Smart Grids, Messe Düsseldorf GmbH intends, for the first time in Germany, to provide a comprehensive platform for technologies relating to the power grids of the future. GRIDexpo will be held for the first time from 28 to 30 October 2025 at the Messe Düsseldorf trade fair premises. The Central German Electro and Digital Industry Association (ZVEI e.V.) is supporting this new trade fair project as a strategic partner
“With GRIDexpo, we are launching a new integration and communication platform for the future of power grids. With this trade fair, we offer market participants a perfect event framework to present their solutions, technologies and offerings for the successful transformation of power grids”, says Wolfram N. Diener, CEO of Messe Düsseldorf GmbH.
The success of the climate and energy transition depends to a large extent on the performance of the power grids. Challenges such as the expansion of renewable energies and the electrification of the transport and heating sectors can only be overcome through the sustainable expansion, modernisation and digitalisation of the grid infrastructure – from connections in the home to the local grid station and the maximum voltage level.
In addition to new systems and equipment for power grids, this requires intelligent measurement, control and communication technology and digital tools for planning, operating and monitoring. At the same time, intelligent storage solutions, charging and heating technologies as well as hardware and software for their optimised control are needed in order to operate the grids in a sustainable and stable manner.
Billions of euros in investments
The German Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur) estimates investment costs of almost 209 billion euros by 2037 for the transmission grid alone. An additional 42.3 billion euros in spending is expected for the expansion of regional distribution grids by 2032. The regulatory authority anticipates a total of 450 billion euros by 2045, and annual costs of more than 20 billion euros for the network infrastructure alone. In addition, there is considerable public and private investment in controllable charging technologies, storage and heating solutions. This is a mammoth task that can ultimately only be accomplished through a joint effort by network operators, hardware and software providers, authorities and politicians.
A joint marketplace for a growing billion-euro market
A comprehensive trade fair like the one planned by Messe Düsseldorf does not yet exist in Germany, one of the most complex and innovative energy markets in the world. GRIDexpo closes this gap. As an international trade fair, it connects grid operators, energy service providers, local authorities and commercial and industrial consumers with the dynamically growing supplier market in a targeted manner.
“We want to turn the energy transition into an efficiency transition through smart electrification. To achieve this, power grids must be rapidly expanded and digitalised. Then, we can adapt to the increasing demand for electricity (from industry and households) in a way that is beneficial to the system and therefore also affordable”, concludes Wolfgang Weber, Chairman of the ZVEI Management Board.
Further information and details can be found here: www.grid-expo.com
About the Messe Düsseldorf group:
“Messe Düsseldorf is one of the most successful trade fair organisers in the world. Around 40 trade fairs are held on its premises spanning 613,000 square metres, including 20 world-leading trade fairs. Every year, international market leaders and top decision-makers from various industries come together in the 18 halls to present and discover innovations, exchange ideas and network. Messe Düsseldorf’s areas of expertise include “Machinery, Plants and Equipment” including metallurgy and foundry technology (e.g. drupa, K, interpack, glasstec, wire and Tube), “Retail, Trades and Services” (EuroShop, EuroCIS, ProWein), “Health and Medical Technology” (MEDICA, COMPAMED, REHACARE, A+A), “Lifestyle and Beauty” (BEAUTY, TOP HAIR), “Leisure” (boot, CARAVAN SALON) and “Mobility”. In addition, the premises host numerous congresses, corporate events, conferences and meetings organised by the subsidiary Düsseldorf Congress every year. Messe Düsseldorf organises more than 70 events abroad. 77 representative offices abroad for 142 countries – including seven international subsidiaries – make up the global network of the group.
About GRIDexpo:
GRIDexpo – International Trade Fair for Smart Grids is a new trade fair format of Messe Düsseldorf GmbH and will be held for the first time from 28 to 30 October 2025 at the Düsseldorf trade fair premises. According to the motto powering the all-electric society, the event aims to provide the first overarching platform for the power grids of the future in Germany. With this vision, GRIDexpo focuses on technologies for the expansion and digitalisation of power grids as well as infrastructure and digital technologies for electromobility and electricity-based heat as new players in the grids. The trade fair is aimed at technical and professional users from the fields of power supply and power generation as well as grid operators and players from industry and commerce, the housing and property sector and the electrical trade.
The Central German Electro and Digital Industry Association (ZVEI e.V.) is supporting this new trade fair project as a strategic partner.
About ZVEI e.V.: www.zvei.org
Press contact:
Messe Düsseldorf GmbH
Lucas Schwenk c/o BETTERTRUST GmbH
Luisenstrasse 40
10117 Berlin
Phone: +49 (0) 178 1197795
E-mail: l.schwenk@bettertrust.de
Messe Düsseldorf GmbH
Daniel Feische
Stockumer Kirchstr. 61
40474 Düsseldorf
Phone: +49 (0) 211-4560-403
E-mail: feisched@messe-duesseldorf.de
