- Hamburg in the autumn with three leading sustainability fairs
Hamburg aims to present itself as a sustainability metropolis this fall with an international conference and three leading trade fairs in the fields of green energy and logistics. Alongside the Hamburg Sustainability Conference at the beginning of October in the town hall and chamber of commerce, the WindEnergy Hamburg, maritime trade fair SMM, and the inaugural H2 Hydrogen Technology Expo Europe will also take place within a few weeks, as announced by Economy Senator Melanie Leonhard (SPD) and fair chief Uwe Fischer.
Within seven weeks, the world's most important representatives of the wind energy, hydrogen, and maritime industries will gather in Hamburg, said Fischer. He referred to the fairs as "The Hamburg Big Three of Energy Transition". From September 3 to October 24, around 100,000 industry visitors from around the world, 4,500 exhibitors, and 750 speakers are expected in the Hanseatic city.
Sustainability and transformation are at the core of the leading fairs. At the SMM from September 3 to 6, the focus will be on the use of artificial intelligence in the maritime economy and the energy transition, with a particular emphasis on green hydrogen as a drive. With 2,200 international exhibitors, it is the largest of the three events.
More than 100 exhibiting companies will keep their stands for the WindEnergy Hamburg, which takes place three weeks later, said Fischer. The fair celebrates its tenth anniversary this year. 1,500 companies, including nine of the world's ten largest manufacturers, will present their innovations. Around 40,000 participants are expected, similar to the SMM.
The Hydrogen Expo Europe has moved from the Weser to the Elbe: previously located in Bremen, it will open its doors in Hamburg from October 22 to 24, according to Fischer. The world's largest fair for the hydrogen economy will run parallel to the Carbon Capture Technology Expo, which focuses on capturing, using, and storing CO2.
Leonhard: Fairs address key future challenges
All three fairs address "the key future challenges," said Senator Leonhard. Hamburg is not only an attractive fair location, "but also because we are considered one of the regions of origin for wind energy and technology." The same applies to Hamburg as a location for the maritime economy and the hydrogen economy.
It was only last week that it was announced that the international Hamburg Sustainability Conference (HSC) will take place annually in the Hanseatic city in the future. Organizers include the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Hamburg Senate, and the Michael Otto Foundation.
Around 1,200 participants are expected at the first conference on October 7 and 8. In addition to Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), several heads of state and government, especially from the Global South, and the President of the World Bank, Ajay Banga, are expected to attend.
Renewable energy, particularly green hydrogen, will be a significant focus at the SMM maritime trade fair, where its use in the maritime economy and energy transition will be explored in depth. During the WindEnergy Hamburg, many companies will showcase their innovations in this renewable energy sector, including nine of the world's ten largest manufacturers.
