Europe’s energy transition has reached a critical point. High electricity prices and reliance on imported natural gas are undermining the region’s competitiveness. As highlighted in Draghi 2024 Report on EU competitiveness, this dependency weakens the European Union’s global standing and underscores the urgent need for faster decarbonisation. Small and medium-sized enterprises have a vital role to play in this shift.
From manufacturing and installation to software and maintenance, SMEs are already driving innovation across the renewable energy sector. Yet their voice remains limited in one key area: standardisation.
To address this, SBS has published a new study. The study outlines SME involvement across the renewable energy value chain—solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal, ocean energy, hydrogen, and biofuels—and pinpoints where their contribution to standardisation is most needed.
While SMEs are active in fields like solar thermal and small-scale hydropower, their involvement in standardisation remains limited. The report also sheds some light on less explored areas—such as batteries, energy storage, grid integration, and energy management—suggesting these be prioritised in future research.
This conference will use the report’s findings as a foundation to discuss policy implications and develop standardisation strategies that will help SMEs maximise their influence across the sector. Keynote speakers will discuss with the audience practical strategies to help SMEs ride the renewable energy wave and strengthen their engagement in standardisation, foster collaboration across stakeholders, and identify concrete steps to empower SMEs to innovate, scale, and shape Europe’s renewable energy transition.
