Energy efficiency, renewables, smart cities the focus at Sofia event

Regional sustainable development will be the focus at EE & RE (energy efficiency & renewables) and Smart Cities, an event organized by Via Expo for April 5 to 7 in Sofia, Bulgaria.

The exhibition’s main objective will be to help interested parties find distributors and launch new products. Companies from ten countries plan to exhibit products, including Ambitermo, Martin, Polytechnik Schmack Biogas, Costruzioni Nazzareno S.r.l., HERZ Energietechnik, Eltrak Bulgaria, Metecno, and Vilmat. Italian and Austrian collective national efforts will also be represented at the event.

The event is being staged based on the potential seen in southeast Europe, a region where a number of technologies can be implemented in order to improve local economy competitiveness through resource efficiency enhancement.

Participants will exhibit equipment such as biogas plants; turn-key biomass combustion plants for combined heat and power generation; wood pellet production equipment; waste-to-energy systems; photovoltaics; small wind turbines and inverters; geothermal heat pumps; cogeneration technologies; insolation panels; smart systems for home, office and hotel facilities; energy efficient lighting, smart systems for home, office and hotel facilities; and energy efficient lighting. Also, a hybrid technology product for storing energy from photovoltaic and wind power stations to stabilize power supply will premiere at the Bulgarian event.

A strong international presence of speakers and practice-oriented topics promises great knowledge exchange at the event’s two conferences – EE & RE, on April 5 and Smart Cities on April 6.

The “Euroheat & Power” session will be devoted to the latest developments in district heating. Dr. Juliet Newson, President of the International Geothermal Association, will present the New Zealand experience in direct use of geothermal heat. Oliver Loebel from PU Europe will provide current insights into trends in passive houses. Dr. Christine Lemaitre, CEO of the German Sustainable Building Council, will provide answers on the question of how to make sustainability measurable.

Attendees involved in intelligent urban issues will be addressed on new plans for Bulgaria’s municipalities, an issue to be presented by Kristina Dely from the Covenant of Mayors. Nuria de Lama from the Big Data Value Association will highlight the future internet applications for cities, transport and logistics. The “Innovation Norway” session will present green innovation opportunities and promote successful solutions.

A number of projects in Bulgaria are underway, according to the Bulgarian Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications, a development that offers great potential for the implementation of smart city concepts.

Representatives of the Bulgarian municipalities of Sofia and Burgas will present realized smart cities projects at the event.

Dr. Ralph Gambetta from the Calypso Networks Association will speak about how to create intelligent transport systems. ‘We expect an overall strong development of the IT sector in SE Europe,” he said. “The combination of the rapid adoption of foreign technologies and many local champions that provide IT systems contributes to the progress in this part of Europe,” he added.

Early-bird offers available until February 26. For further information visit www.viaexpo.com