We are extending our heartfelt greetings to you on the occasion of this year's E‑world energy & water at Messe Essen. Four days long, Europe's leading fair in the energy and water industries is a coveted and highly regarded stage for products and services relating to all aspects of generation, transport, storage, efficiency, trading and renewable energies. And with its extensive range on offer, E‑world is making Messe Essen the international and cross-sectoral meeting place for innovative energy solutions for the 18th time already.
E‑world is reflecting the sector's answers to the energy questions of tomorrow in an impressive way. The "smart city" is emerging as a global cross-sectoral trend. The fair is taking it up as one main subject. Thus, attention is focusing on the smart energy exhibition area to an even greater extent: In Halls 6 and 7, over 150 companies from industry and the telecommunications and IT sectors as well as political associations and protagonists are presenting their services, products and technologies in this exhibition area alone. On the joint area, they are showing intelligent and efficient solutions for energy generation, energy storage, power transmission and consumption control.
A growing number of companies are presenting their solutions for the future of the energy sector at the fair, especially those focusing on energy efficiency and environmental compatibility. We are very pleased about that - particularly after Essen, a city characterised by the coal and steel industries, had won the "Green Capital" title last year and become an impetus provider for the region.
In the future, Essen should become even more social, climate-friendlier and lower-carbon and permit economic and ecological growth hand in hand. In order to pursue these objectives, pioneering projects will be advanced even further in 2018, too. For example, the utilisation of efficient and new technologies should lead to a drop of 50 percent or more in the energy needs of the economically flourishing Ruhr metropolis by 2020.
The Europe-wide radiance of E‑world as a platform for pioneering and sustainable development in the energy sector is contributing to highlighting the innovative image of Essen. At the same time, the trade fair is consolidating the reputation of the city of Essen as an energy capital. Numerous companies, including not only big players but also niche suppliers, have their headquarters in the dynamic environment. New firms are joining them constantly.
The currently ongoing modernisation measures at Messe Essen are also contributing to the future orientation of the location. When the work is concluded at the end of 2019, Essen will be one of the most modern fair sites in Germany and, amongst other subjects, will be at the cutting edge in matters relating to air conditioning technology and lighting, too.
In these terms, we wish all the exhibitors and visitors a successful E‑world energy & water 2018. And of course, we are cordially inviting you to discover Essen, the greenest city in North Rhine-Westphalia and the third-greenest city in Germany, after the fair.
Thomas Kufen Oliver P. Kuhrt
Lord Mayor of the City of Essen CEO of Messe Essen
Chairman of the Supervisory Board
of Messe Essen