The Smarter Europe 2026

CEEC attended The Smarter E Europe 2026, which took place in Munich from 23 to 25 June 2026, with the accompanying congress held on 22 and 23 June. This was Europe's largest alliance of exhibitions for the energy industry, with more than 2,600 companies expected to exhibit at Messe München this year.

What the exhibition covers

The Smarter E Europe is not a single exhibition but an alliance of four parallel exhibitions, each focused on a different part of the energy chain. Together they cover most of the technologies that support today's energy transition:

• Intersolar Europe — photovoltaics, solar thermal energy and large-scale solar projects.
• ees Europe — batteries and energy storage systems (BESS), at residential, commercial and grid scale.
• Power2Drive Europe — charging infrastructure and e-mobility.
• EM-Power Europe — energy management, smart grids and the integration of generation and consumption.

This year's motto is "Accelerating Integrated Energy Solutions". The focus is on bringing grids, storage, e-mobility and energy management together into one flexible system, rather than treating each technology in isolation. The congress that precedes the exhibition, held on 22 and 23 June, covers related topics, from innovations in solar energy and storage to e-mobility, charging infrastructure and digitalised smart grid solutions.

Why it matters for Cyprus

The four exhibition themes map directly onto issues that developers, engineers and investors in Cyprus are dealing with today: integrating battery energy storage systems (BESS) into the grid, permitting new photovoltaic and hybrid projects, and meeting the environmental compliance requirements that accompany every new energy infrastructure project. Following technological and regulatory developments at European level helps organisations active in Cyprus prepare in advance for permitting requirements, environmental impact studies and grid connection procedures.

For CEEC, these themes connect directly to our day-to-day work: environmental impact studies (EIA), strategic environmental impact studies (SEA), assessments related to Natura 2000 sites, energy audits, and support before the competent authorities of the Republic of Cyprus. A new energy storage project or photovoltaic park needs more than the right technology it also needs the right permitting path from the start.

• Trends in permitting and technical integration of battery energy storage (BESS) projects.
• Developments in photovoltaic and hybrid renewable energy projects.
• Grid connection requirements and smart energy management.
• Practices already applied in mature European markets that can be adapted to the Cypriot context.

CEEC at the event

CEEC representatives were in Munich for the exhibition, following developments in energy storage, grid connection and renewable energy permitting as a priority. The aim is to bring this knowledge directly into the projects the company supports in Cyprus, from the environmental impact study stage through to final permitting. Attending an event of this scale gives our team a direct view of how the energy storage and e-mobility markets are evolving in Europe, insight that feeds back into the advice we give to clients and authorities in Cyprus.

If you are planning a renewable energy project, an energy storage system or other energy infrastructure in Cyprus and need guidance on environmental permitting or the relevant legislation, contact us.