The 2025 International Digital Energy Expo opened today at the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center in Futian District, drawing more than 2,000 enterprises from over 50 countries to showcase advancements in the global energy sector’s digital transformation.

Under the theme “AI-Empowered Shenzhen, Digitally-Driven Future,” the expo is serving as a 50,000-square-meter innovation platform. It focuses on the entire energy chain, from generation and grid networks to load management and storage, presenting over 300 cutting-edge technologies.

A key moment of the opening ceremony was the release of the “2025 Shenzhen Digital Energy White Paper.” The document outlines a strategic implementation path for Shenzhen to establish itself as a global pioneer in digital energy. Its core strategy focuses on six areas: energy generation, grid, load, storage, digitalization, and decarbonization.

The plan aims to create three flagship initiatives for the city: a next-generation “Super Charging City 2.0,” an integrated power charging-storage-discharge network, and a cloud-based virtual power plant management platform. The white paper details that these will be achieved by establishing four major centers, cultivating industrial leaders ranking among the top 100, and developing 10 key solutions.

The expo is structured into seven thematic exhibition zones, mirroring the “generation-grid-load-storage” chain to demonstrate the deep integration of the digital energy industry.

“Shenzhen is no comparison. I could say, at least 10 years, if not 20 years ahead from the other cities I’ve seen,” said Mohammed Siraj, a representative from Kuwait-based Abdul Razzaq Al-Sane & Sons Group.

This marks his first visit to both Shenzhen and the expo, having traveled from Kuwait specifically to explore energy solutions for his company’s expanding data center operations.

Norbert Dörgeloh from Alensy Energy Solutions, a Namibian company specializing in utility-scale solar plants and battery storage systems, was invited to the expo by Huawei, one of his company’s key suppliers, to strengthen partnerships and explore the latest developments in renewable energy technology.

“China is leading by far, especially in renewable energy,” Dörgeloh said, noting that in renewable energy storage and solar models, “they are definitely leading.”

Shenzhen’s own advancements were highlighted as a model. The city, which is the first major metropolis to achieve full electrification of its public bus fleet, now boasts more supercharging stations than traditional gas stations, forming the densest urban charging network in the world. 

Furthermore, its Version 3.0 virtual power plant platform uses AI-driven smart dispatch to achieve industry-leading efficiency in integrating clean energy, effectively tackling the global challenge of incorporating high proportions of renewable power into the grid.

These groundbreaking practices demonstrate Shenzhen’s innovative strength in the digital energy field and provide replicable “Shenzhen solutions” for high-density cities worldwide pursuing their own energy transitions.

Alongside the main forum, the expo is hosting seven parallel forums that address specific challenges and pain points within the digital energy industry. The event has also attracted official delegations from Arab countries, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, and others, who are sharing their regional energy transition experiences and investment opportunities.

The expo will run until Sunday.