WindEnergy Hamburg is to take place digitally this year in response to the coronavirus pandemic and its global impact on trade fairs and international travelling.
Hamburg Messe und Congress now plans to host a virtual event between 1 and 4 December 2020.
It is currently working on various formats to replicate the trade fair experience as much as possible.
Hamburg Messe und Congress GmbH president and CEO Bernd Aufderheide said: “Following extensive consultations with our co-organiser, WindEurope, our partners VDMA, BWE and GWEC, and the exhibition committee, we have decided to host WindEnergy Hamburg 2020 as a new digital event.
“In the face of growing infection rates in many countries and international travel restrictions, planning a physical trade fair with participants from all around the world is next to impossible.
“Our decision gives our exhibitors and visitors a reliable basis for planning and provides us with an opportunity to make the wind industry’s leading networking event a great success on the digital stage.
“We are in the process of reinventing and expanding the trade fair concept.
“Through our digital programme, we want to bring the industry together this year despite the difficult circumstances.
When we meet again on the Hamburg Messe und Congress exhibition campus in 2022, some of these new services might turn out to be welcome additions to the proven trade fair concept.”
The digital programme will include company and product profiles along with comprehensive, up-to-date background information, plus education, business and networking opportunities.
It will even be possible to make appointments for meetings in virtual meeting rooms, among other features.
“We are trying to replicate as many aspects of WindEnergy Hamburg in the digital space so that exhibitors in particular will have an opportunity to present themselves and interact with the global community,” Aufderheide added.
One of the highlights that had been planned for the event, the Premium Conference by WindEurope, will likewise be held digitally.
WindEurope CEO Giles Dickson: “This year’s WindEurope Conference comes in a new form.
“For the first time, alongside the main conference programme, there’ll be a ‘Wind TV’ channel which will give access to exclusive live and on-demand content. So you won’t just be tuning into Teams/Zoom panels!.”
The high-level virtual conference will focus on how to unleash wind’s full potential.
It’ll cover permitting, community engagement, electrification, renewable hydrogen, technology and innovation and the wind energy supply chain.