Global voices at expo highlight innovation and partnerships

The 2025 International Digital Energy Expo opened Sept. 18 at the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center in Futian District, bringing together more than 2,000 enterprises from over 50 countries. With a focus on the integration of digital technology and energy, the event has attracted strong interest from international participants, who see it as a window into the future of the energy sector.

Giuseppe D’Alessandro, head of the international energy division of Italian Eemaxx Group, during an interview with Shenzhen Daily. Photos by Shao Jingfeng

For Giuseppe D’Alessandro, head of the international energy division of Italian Eemaxx Group, the Shenzhen expo offered a unique experience not yet found in Europe.
“My first time in this expo, but for me it’s very, very interesting because in Europe we haven’t these experiences. This expo focuses on the digital energy. This sector will be the future for power and for universal projects,” he said.

Looking at industry challenges, D’Alessandro pointed to the grid and green hydrogen as key priorities. “Twenty years ago, the challenges were solar and wind. Now, I think we have two options, two challenges: first of all, the master grid, and also green hydrogen, the new fuel to eliminate oil and advance the decarbonization of our world.”

Filipe Santos Costa, former president of the Portuguese Agency for Investment and Foreign Trade (AICEP), during an interview with Shenzhen Daily.

Filipe Santos Costa, former president of the Portuguese Agency for Investment and Foreign Trade (AICEP), highlighted the strong participation of Chinese companies in Portugal’s energy sector. “Portugal’s transmission system operator, a private company, is 30% owned by Chinese companies, and our distribution system operator, another private company, is 20% owned by China’s Three Gorges,” he noted.

Costa believes this creates an opportunity for Chinese-developed digital energy solutions to enter European markets through Portugal. His main expectation centers on battery energy storage systems. “As electricity increasingly comes from renewables such as wind, solar, and small hydro, it becomes more intermittent and harder to store. What we need now is to apply AI and big data to manage electricity and develop storage systems to ensure reliability, avoid waste, and keep energy green,” he said.

He added that artificial intelligence and big data will play a critical role in improving power grid management as grids become greener, helping with prediction, flexibility, and resilience.

Varga Daniel, owner of Hungary’s VÁV Union Kft, during an interview with Shenzhen Daily.

Varga Daniel, owner of Hungary’s VÁV Union Kft, also sees the expo as a platform for international cooperation. The company specializes in electrical equipment manufacturing, installation, and refurbishment across voltage ranges from 0.4 to 120 kV.

“This is the first time being here in this expo, but we already have some Chinese partners,” said Daniel.

“Our experience here is very amazing. We hope to reach companies interested in projects in Central Europe or Hungary, and to build new partnerships,” he said.

Daniel added that his company has already completed successful projects with Chinese partners in Hungary, and he hopes the expo will open doors to more opportunities. “We want to know more companies and join forces to deliver services back to our region.”

A foreign visitor examines an exhibit at the expo.

This year’s expo, lasting until Sept. 21, established dedicated zones for overseas exhibitors and business matchmaking, while global forums and networking activities offered practical avenues for companies to exchange technologies, explore investment opportunities, and forge new partnerships. Joint reports released with the International Energy Agency and the International Renewable Energy Agency highlighted China’s rise from a “technology follower” to a “rule maker” in digital energy, and its deeper role in reshaping global energy governance.

The audience during a forum of the expo.

Two thematic events — the Digital Energy Achievements Release and the Digital Energy Project Matchmaking — showcased cutting-edge technologies and solutions from leaders including Huawei, BYD, and Sunwoda. These sessions emphasized the sector’s innovative momentum and cross-border flows of talent, capital, and projects.

Li Bin, director of the Market Development Department at PowerChina, said:

“Digital energy and artificial intelligence are becoming the core engines driving the energy revolution and shaping a new energy system.”

“The future lies in making energy systems more efficient, cleaner, and smarter. This trend is spurring unprecedented collaboration across the energy industry chain.”

More photos by Liu Xudong and Shao Jingfeng