NetZero 2026. Energy at the peak — how to stay competitive? Discussions take place from October 20 to 22.

The demand for energy is rising, and so are prices. How to maintain competitiveness? Opinions and practical solutions at NetZero at Allianz MiCo from October 20 to 22.

NetZero Milan is an event focused on electrifying the economy. It’s not another gathering to discuss how necessary a transition is, but rather a forum to share visions and concrete projects. NetZero Expo-Summit is organized by Fiera Milano and will take place at Allianz MiCo from October 20 to 22. The event will feature over 140 international speakers, 3 opening sessions, and 15 vertical conferences on topics such as energy, competitiveness, attracting investment, and policies to support industrial transformation. Notable speakers include Nobel Prize in Economics laureate Philippe Aghion and Jan Rosenow, Professor of Energy and Climate Policies at Oxford University.

NetZero: Technology, Competitiveness, Finance, and Investment

The goal of NetZero is to address the various challenges that the transition is making increasingly apparent in an integrated manner. Decarbonization, industrial competitiveness, energy security, and investment capacity must all be part of a unified vision for the future. This is why it is important to bring together companies, institutions, investors, research, and innovation to tackle the massive transformations affecting us from different perspectives. What investments and policies are needed to ensure a future for sustainability and industrial development?

"The energy transition has entered a new phase: it no longer concerns only decarbonization goals, but increasingly directly affects corporate competitiveness, energy costs, supply security, and the ability to attract investment," says Sara Quotti Tubi, Head of Energy & Transportation Exhibitions at Fiera Milano. "The most important aspect is the desire to combine discussions on major trends with the concrete needs of businesses."

To add practicality to this event, meetings are accompanied by an exhibition area to facilitate networking as well.

"We want NetZero Milan to be a time for analysis," continues Sara Quotti Tubi, "but also an opportunity to build relationships, attract investment, and create new opportunities across the energy transition sectors."

Energy = Competitiveness

The crises of recent years have further highlighted the link between energy and corporate and industrial competitiveness. According to ISPI’s analyses, Europe remains vulnerable since diesel still accounts for over 40% of European oil consumption, compared to around 20% in the United States, while gas continues to significantly influence electricity prices. Italy is among the European countries that use the most gas, with 40% of the country’s electricity demand relying on it. In terms of electrification, electricity currently makes up 23% of final energy consumption, a figure that has remained largely unchanged for over a decade. Things are changing, and according to projections, we will be a couple of years behind the 2030 targets, but we will manage to achieve them.

Renewable sources and BESS (Battery Energy Storage Systems) are having a significant impact on the energy system and helping to reduce demand for energy from fossil fuels.

What will the new models of supply look like, and more importantly, what will be the most competitive mix of energy sources? These topics will also be discussed at NetZero.

From renewables to storage: how the electricity system is changing

A significant portion of the 15 Vertical Conference will focus on energy supply. Politecnico di Milano will examine how electrical systems are changing with the growth of renewable energy, while Aurora Energy Research will concentrate on the prospects for photovoltaics and batteries, as well as the economic sustainability of such investments.

Key To Energy will delve particularly into long-duration energy storage technologies and the market mechanisms needed to make them economically viable.

The demand for energy is also set to change. Data centers, for example, are becoming increasingly important energy consumers, but they could also serve as tools to enhance grid flexibility. Roland Berger will address the electrification of industrial processes, linking energy costs, innovation, and competitiveness.

Topics that all lead to the same question: how much does electrification cost, and how affordable can it become?

Not everything can be electrified

There are also sectors where replacing fossil fuels directly with electricity is much more difficult. For industries that are hard to decarbonize, other solutions come into play.

AFRY will provide an overview of the CO2 capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) chain, not only from a technological perspective but also in terms of costs and potential business models. TEHA Group will focus on decarbonized hydrogen and e-fuel, aiming to determine where they can truly find a place in the market and what tools are needed to develop it.

And here, the economic issue inevitably comes up again. Technology may be available, but without capital and a sufficiently stable regulatory framework, investments are unlikely to take off. Over the course of these three days, discussions will also cover carbon pricing, energy taxation, subsidies for fossil fuels, the EU ETS, and CBAM.

Electrification and autonomous driving: how will transportation change?

Transportation couldn’t be overlooked. One of the Vertical Conferences will focus on the competitiveness of Europe’s transportation industry, a sector where technological transformation is advancing across multiple fronts simultaneously.

Electrification, autonomous driving, and shared mobility are transforming not only vehicles but also industrial models and the way we use transportation. The comparison, prepared by Roland Berger, will thus bring together technology, market trends, and the competitiveness of Europe’s industry.

NetZero, More Than Just Conferences

Outside the conference halls lies the more practical aspect of NetZero Milan. The exhibition area will bring together companies from energy, industry, technology, and mobility sectors, with networking and business matching activities.

Among the main partners are Amazon and Intesa Sanpaolo, while companies such as ABB, A2A, Acciona, Daimler Truck, Edison, and Enel have also joined.

A delegation of 30 buyers, mainly from the Balkans, Eastern Mediterranean, and Central and Eastern Europe, will also contribute to giving the event a more international dimension, having been involved through a project carried out with Agenzia ICE.

The event takes place from October 20 to 22 at Allianz MiCo in Milan. Three days to explore not only how to produce energy more sustainably but also how to turn electrification into an industrial opportunity rather than a cost to bear.

The full program and registration details are available on the official website: www.netzeromilan.com.