More than 130 international speakers, 8 knowledge partners, and a rich agenda of conferences and round tables: these are the key figures for the NetZero Milan Conference program, the new Expo-Summit organized by Fiera Milano. From May 14 to 16 at Allianz MiCo in Milan it will bring together the industrial, institutional, and financial worlds to discuss the major challenge of decarbonizing the electrical system and industry.
“The transition to a zero-emission industrial future requires a paradigm shift that goes beyond mere technological evolution: it requires a rethinking of processes, adequate financial resources, and, above all, solid collaboration between industry leaders, policymakers, and the research community.” – says Roberto Foresti, Deputy General Manager of Fiera Milano. – “Only through coordinated efforts will it be possible to address technological and economic challenges, create supportive regulatory frameworks, and encourage investments in research and development, innovation, and infrastructure development. This is why NetZero Milan is supported by leading organizations and will involve institutional representatives and international experts in the Conference agenda to discuss joint strategies to accelerate a process that is fundamental for European industrial competitiveness”.
The academic world, scientific research, and high-level strategic, financial, and legal consulting will make a concrete contribution to the project through the eight knowledge partners who have chosen to support Fiera Milano in identifying content and speakers. They will play a key role in ensuring the quality and scientific rigor of the event's content.
Roland Berger, a strategic consulting firm; Fondazione Politecnico di Milano, an entity created to support the Politecnico di Milano in promoting and developing innovative projects and advanced research, acting as a bridge between universities, companies, and public institutions; Politecnico di Milano, the largest school of Architecture, Design, and Engineering in Italy and among the top 25 universities in the world in these fields; TEHA Group (The European House – Ambrosetti), a consulting firm for top management with headquarters in Italy and offices worldwide for over 60 years; ECCO, the independent Italian think tank dedicated to energy transition and climate change with a national, European, and global vocation; AGICI, an economic-strategic research and consulting firm with a strong focus on key aspects of ecological and energy transition; Green Horse Advisory, a multidisciplinary consulting boutique dedicated exclusively to the energy transition sectors, and PV Magazine Group, the leading publisher specializing in photovoltaic solar and storage worldwide, have all joined the project.
The Vertical Conferences will be held on May 15 and 16 and will allow for concrete and scientifically supported insights into the themes around which the great challenge of decarbonisation is played: the most critical industrial sectors, electrification, renewables, emerging technologies, and financial support.
THE GREAT CHALLENGES: HARD-TO-ABATE AND TRANSPORT
The most complex sectors of the manufacturing industry, the so-called hard-to-abate sectors such as cement or steel production, represent unique challenges for zero-emission production. To achieve the 2050 goals, it is necessary to develop and implement strategic solutions that go beyond mere compliance. This will be the focus of the Conference curated by Roland Berger, which will allow for an in-depth look at the technologies available today for carbon capture, the potential of alternative raw materials, energy efficiency improvements, and the principles of the circular economy that can contribute to the strategic transformation of these sectors.
Roland Berger will also shine a spotlight on another key sector for decarbonisation: mobility, with a focus on air and maritime transport and the development of the sustainable fuels market on a large scale. The EU has set a roadmap for emission reduction for each mode of transport based on its peculiarities. For each mode of transport, new propulsion technologies and sustainable fuels will play a crucial role, but, although the potential for sustainable fuels in Europe is significant, high initial investments are needed, and the costs of production must be reduced, infrastructure developed, and supportive regulatory frameworks defined, a call for collaboration between governments, industry leaders, and research institutions.
Fondazione Politecnico di Milano, on the other hand, will focus on hydrogen, a clean and versatile energy carrier that can play a crucial role in competitively supporting decarbonisation by replacing fossil fuels in industries and applications where direct electrification would be difficult or not economically feasible, such as steel production, chemicals, and refining or high-energy-demand transport sectors. In addition to industrial applications, hydrogen will play a key role in the future energy transition by enabling long-term energy storage, facilitating large-scale energy transport, and strengthening cross-border energy interconnections. The conference will explore the potential of this energy source, but also the major challenges to be addressed to make it truly competitive: cost reduction, infrastructure development, and necessary political support.
The Conference schedule will also include a dedicated discussion with pioneers of decarbonisation path. Leading by example will provide an opportunity to analyze concrete examples of excellence from companies that have faced the challenge of reducing emissions, navigating between ‘green backlash' – resistance to sustainable policies – and ‘green hushing' – fear of overexposure to avoid accusations of greenwashing.
ENERGY TRANSITION: AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEIZE
In Italy, industry is responsible for 22% of national emissions. Electrification, especially for sectors that do not require high temperatures for production, would be a fundamental step to achieve European targets, but also a strategic opportunity to improve national energy security and ensure the competitiveness of the industrial system. ECCO, in its dedicated session, proposes an in-depth look at the critical issues and opportunities for decarbonizing low-temperature processes, analyzing existing regulatory, financial, and infrastructural barriers in Italy and Europe, and proposing solutions for an enabling policy framework.
AGICI will instead coordinate a session dedicated to the role of Utilities' network infrastructure in the energy transition. A moment of discussion between Utilities, technology companies, and financial institutions to discuss the most effective strategies for building the networks of the future, reinforced by the presentation of a study curated by AGICI itself, which will analyze the investment strategies and growth policies adopted by the main Italian and European operators, providing a comprehensive overview of the sector's challenges and opportunities.
THE GREAT OPPORTUNITY OF RENEWABLES
TEHA Group will delve into scenarios and potential of solar and offshore wind energy, one of the most promising levers for the energy transition. In particular, floating offshore wind stands out for its scalable potential, capable of meeting the growing global energy needs, and Italy, with its position in the Mediterranean and its established expertise in the mechanical and naval engineering sectors, has the opportunity to lead the development of an innovative and competitive industrial supply chain. To seize this potential, it is essential to accelerate the development of a domestic market that attracts investments and fosters the creation of an Italian industrial ecosystem, initiating a strategy that integrates immediate objectives with long-term commitments.
PV Magazine Group and Green Horse Advisory will jointly curate two sessions related to the world of renewable energy.
The first will focus on the state of the art and development potential of solar energy in Italy. Although industrial-scale solar installations grew significantly in 2024, it is unfortunately expected that, due to project development delays and awaiting incentives under the FER X mechanism, construction may resume only between the end of 2025 and early 2026, with many projects expected to be completed by 2027. However, the ability of EPC contractors to manage the wave of new projects will also play a significant role in the sector's trajectory. The panel will also address regulatory bottlenecks hindering progress. Current regulatory frameworks, including the Agriculture Decree and the Suitable Areas Decree, have added complexity to the authorization process, risking delays in new investments and potentially affecting installed capacity by the end of 2026.
The second session will instead analyze the world of storage. With the expansion of renewable energy capacity, investments in storage and network infrastructure are essential to consolidate the contribution of renewables in the Italian energy mix. In Italy, the storage sector is still emerging but has already attracted considerable interest. The event will analyze the main technological innovations, such as solid-state and sodium batteries, thermal and hydrogen storage systems, and the renewed relevance of pumped hydroelectric storage to improve grid stability and reliability, but will also delve into the regulatory and economic drivers pushing investments in storage in Italy. Finally, the transformative role of AI and digitalization in optimizing storage systems, improving operational efficiency, and accelerating the integration of renewables will be discussed.
THE ROLE OF EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES
Politecnico di Milano will coordinate two sessions in the schedule, focusing on two major challenges: the role of artificial intelligence in the energy transition and emerging technologies supporting decarbonisation.
The first session will explore the synergies and conflicts between two of the most powerful megatrends shaping the global economy – Artificial Intelligence and Energy Transition – offering a comprehensive perspective on how AI is influencing the shift towards more sustainable energy. Through contributions from both large companies and institutional speakers, it will illustrate how AI can help reduce energy impact, optimize consumption, and improve efficiency in sectors such as data centers, being itself a highly energy-intensive reality. But it will also analyze the regulatory framework and the role of AI in achieving global sustainability goals. A dual perspective to stimulate dialogue on the integration of these megatrends, highlighting both the benefits and challenges they represent for industries globally.
The second session curated by Politecnico di Milano will instead focus on emerging technologies supporting the energy transition, analyzing in particular the potential applications and uses of SMRs (Small Nuclear Reactors), which are a possible solution to provide clean and stable energy complementary to renewable sources, and CCUS (Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage) tools, which allow capturing carbon dioxide emissions produced by industrial plants and power stations to then reuse or store them safely. This will be discussed through contributions from authoritative voices from the scientific world, institutional figures, but also companies that have launched experimental projects already in the application phase.
THE ROLE OF FINANCE
TEHA Group will curate the session in the schedule dedicated to the theme of financing, a fundamental support in a path of change that requires updating business models, internalizing sustainability even in supply chains, evaluating collaborations and alliances between economic and institutional actors. While choosing the most suitable technologies is crucial, it is equally important to have quick access to public and private funding sources that can recognize and support entrepreneurial choices that will ensure long-term competitiveness and sustainability. For Italy, this is a great opportunity that can lead, on the one hand, to the strengthening and modernization of the financial offer for businesses and, on the other, to the consolidation and innovation of the country's productive structure.
