Off-Grid at The smarter E Europe

June 23 2026 | ICM München

What does it take to secure affordable, clean energy and water for rural people in low-and medium income countries? For sure, it is a combination of concerted political effort and technological progress.

As part of the Intersolar Europe Conference, speakers will shed light on experiences, innovations and future perspectives of off-grid system in four dedicated off-grid sessions.

In 2026, a focus of the program will be on innovations and technologies. Renowned speakers from international organizations will be providing insights into exciting projects and learnings.

Renowned key note speakers from international organizations will be providing insights into electrification, off-grid systems and decentralized renewable energies.

For participants only interested in these sessions, a separate Off-Grid Conference ticket is available.

Date

June 23, 2026

Session times

9:00am–6:00pm

Event language English
Venue

ICM – International Congress Center Messe München
81823 Munich, Germany

Room 14c

Program
  • 9:30am: Off-Grid: Off-Grid: Market Outlook & Lessons Learned
  • 11:30am: Off-Grid: Innovations & Technologies
  • 2:30pm: Off-Grid: to be announced soon
  • 4:30pm: Off-Grid: Off Grid to the Rescue: Rebuilding with Mini-Grids
Tickets

The ticket shop will be available from the end of February 2026

This session provides an overview of current market trends and forecasts in the off-grid sector. Industry experts will be sharing key insights from recent projects, highlighting successes, challenges and lessons learned from real-world implementation. The discussion will offer practical takeaways for stakeholders looking to better understand market dynamics and develop resilient, scalable off-grid energy solutions.

For many years, the photovoltaic (PV) market was dominated by grid feed-in systems. Increasingly affordable solar modules and storage systems have been changing this picture. The resulting competitive situation is leading to new results when evaluating whether a grid connection makes sense for a particular use or not. However, off-grid applications for thermal energy are also gaining importance, such as solar-electric heating and cooking. Innovative system design as well as innovative storage and applications are shifting into focus.

Discover how green hydrogen and fuel cell technologies are transforming decentralized energy systems worldwide. This session will be presenting hands-on experience from pioneering projects in Thailand, Ghana, Namibia and South Africa. Find out how solar-powered hydrogen microgrids can replace diesel generators, strengthen energy resilience and enable short- to long-term storage, while supporting environmental and climate goals. Project partners including German SMEs and research institutes, share insights on lessons learned, local benefits and the replication potential of these systems. Selected projects were implemented with the support from the Export Initiative Environmental Protection. Off-Grid: Technology, innovation and application (e.g. productive use, business models, agricultural-PV, water-energy-food …)

In this urgent and forward-looking session of the Intersolar Europe Conference, we will bring together voices and experience from Ukraine, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Kenya to explore how solar and battery mini-grids are used where war has destroyed centralized power infrastructure. The initial focus is on the immediate, life-saving needs: Hospitals, schools and water supply systems. Then we move to the medium-term goal — interconnecting mini-grids, rebuilding a resilient infrastructure, creating new jobs and livelihoods. A major question is how we can train the local workforce, e.g. via vocational training, apprenticeships and certification programs, so that rebuilding is not only about hardware, but about people and enduring capacity. Join us to examine how off-grid solar transitions from an emergency stop-gap to the sustainable backbone of recovery and growth.

(from left to right)

  • Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Peter Adelmann, Technical University of Ulm
  • Dr.-Ing. Philipp Blechinger, Head of Unit Off-Grid Systems, Reiner Lemoine Institute
  • Horst Dufner, Head of The smarter E Europe, Solar Promotion GmbH
  • Carsten Hellpap, Energy Consultant
  • Dr. Nikolaus Supersberger, Business Scout for Development of GIZ GmbH, Agency for Business and Economic Development, AWE
  • David Wedepohl, Managing Director International Affairs, German Solar Association
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