Recap: Industrial Energy Transition Conference

The European industry is currently faced with manifold challenges including high and volatile prices for fossil fuels, intensified global competition and shifting trade relations.

The Industrial Energy Transition Conference on February 26^th in Wels/Austria, organised by the NEFI partner OÖ Energiesparverband, presented how the industrial energy transition can secure Europe’s industrial future.

The Industrial Energy Transition Conference started with the session “The Clean Industrial Deal for a resilient and competitive European industry”, which showed up-to-date information on policies and funding programmes. The following session “Pathways for industry transformation” explored how industry can turn the challenge of decarbonisation into a competitive advantage. Professor Thomas Kienberger from the Technical University of Leoben and head of NEFI, outlined technology pathways for a competitive industry transformation. Finally, the session “Leading technology examples from industry from Austria and Germany” showcased how companies are already turning innovation into action by reducing emissions, improving efficiency, and thereby strengthening their competitiveness.

The Industry Energy Transition Conference was part of the World Sustainable Energy Days 2026, which took place from February 24-27 in Wels/Austria and was the meeting place for the entire energy transition community with 700 participants from 63 countries.

The next World Sustainable Energy Days will take place in Wels from March 2-5, 2027. The deadline for the Call for Papers is October 9, 2026.