With the theme of “Industrial Transformation – Making a Difference”, Hannover Messe 2023 (HM23) provided a platform to showcase solutions in the emerging areas, such as artificial intelligence (AI), carbon-neutral production, energy management, hydrogen and Industry 4.0. Held after a gap of three years (considering 2022 edition was an abbreviated event due to Covid restriction), the mood at HM23 was upbeat with more than 4,000 exhibitors presenting their solutions for a digital, connected and sustainable industry, and welcoming 130,000 visitors from around the globe. More than 80 Indian companies also participated in the trade fair showcasing Made-in-India technologies and products. 

It is clear that climate protection requires the help of industry in the form of a supplier and user of technologies that enable CO2-neutral production. Electrification, digitisation and automation - which are already leading to solutions for achieving effective climate protection - were the three trends that shaped this year’s Hannover Messe. 

With energy prices skyrocketing in Europe, governments and companies are taking all necessary measures to reduce energy consumption and move away from fossil fuels. Many exhibitors presented smart energy monitoring solutions to optimise energy consumption at machine level and, thus reduce the carbon footprint.

Hydrogen - the new source of energy and hope for the future - was one of the hotly discussed topics at Hannover Messe this year with a complete hall being dedicated to the industry and series of panel discussions held to find solutions for issues such as availability, transportation and large-scale storage. More than 500 companies at HM23 showcased solutions for using hydrogen in industry. India's Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL), which was participating at the trade fair after a gap of six years, used the platform to discuss with global companies on possibility of collaboration in the hydrogen sector. Speaking exclusively to IPF during HM23, Dr Nalin Shinghal, CMD, BHEL, disclosed that the sector offers huge business opportunity for the company.

With the Government of India sanctioning Rs 200 billion in January 2023 for curating a green hydrogen ecosystem in the country, many companies are drawing up investment plans. About Rs 174.90 billion of this fund is to be used for strategic interventions to support domestic electrolyser manufacturing capabilities. 

Hydrogen is expected to play a big role in helping India to achieve net zero goal by 2070. Reliance Group has already signed an agreement with Gujarat state to set up a 100 GW renewable energy and hydrogen parks in addition to manufacturing electrolyses, with an investment of Rs 5.6 trillion. Similarly, Adani Group plans to invest $ 70 billion towards green energy projects. 

Throughout the world, climate protection and sustainability are clearly at the top of the industry agenda. In order to achieve the targeted climate neutrality, new, intelligent technologies and solutions are needed for resource conservation and efficient production across all areas of life. HM23 clearly showed that the technologies for competitive and climate-neutral industrial production are available. Question is: Are we ready to deploy them quickly?