Gastech 2025: the future of the energy sector starts in Milan

Countries and markets around the world are accelerating their efforts to transition to more resilient energy systems, where energy security and decarbonisation are converging priorities. The energy crisis triggered by the conflict in Ukraine has an estimated impact of 2% of EU GDP in 2024. The spread of Artificial Intelligence, which is making an increasing contribution to the global economy, is driving energy demand, particularly in data centres, which are estimated to double their requirements by 2026 to 1,000 terawatt hours.

These are just some of the many variables that define the current scenario, which is full of complexities, but also of great opportunities. The energy industry, for example, is facing a global need for talent. BCG, quantifies the global green energy skills gap at 7 million by 2030. These are estimates that indicate the enormous potential for direct and induced development of the sector.

In this scenario, natural gas and LNG (liquefied natural gas) are confirmed as strategic levers. Their flexibility, complementarity with essentially intermittent renewables and lower emissions compared to coal make them decisive tools for ensuring energy security and inclusion in the transition phase. The natural gas and LNG market is expected to grow to 4.73 trillion cubic metres by 2050 and will remain an essential pillar of the energy system. Against this backdrop, there is an urgent need to develop new projects to connect supply volumes with new consumption centres.

This is whereGastech 2025, the world's most important energy event, will start at Fiera Milano (Rho) from 9 to 12 September. More than 50,000 participants from 150 countries, more than 1,000 exhibitors in 20 pavilions and as many speakers will enliven the four-day event in Milan with a Strategic Conference and a Technical & Commercial Conference where personalities from the energy industry, finance and institutions at global level will take turns to present application solutions, facilitate meetings with the capital market and develop new plans for international collaboration.

Notable strategic speakers include the Minister of Enterprise and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso; Agostino Scornajenchi, CEO of Snam; Guido Brusco, COO of Eni for Natural Resources; Lorenzo Simonelli, President and CEO of Baker Hughes; Alessandra Pasini, co-founder and CEO of Zhero; Domenico Siniscalco, former Italian Minister of Economy and Senior Advisor to Morgan Stanley; Claudia Colla, Head of the European Commission's Northern Italy representation; Guido Guidesi, Lombardy Region's Councillor for Economic Development; together with government representatives from Egypt, Libya, Nigeria, Lebanon, Mauritania and Hungary.

Capitalising the growth opportunities created by a global energy economy in transition will be another important topic at Gastech. According to the IEA, 70 countries will meet or exceed renewable capacity targets by 2030, signalling a boom for the sector in the second half of the decade. The global climate technology market is expected to reach $149.2 billion by 2032, driven by the growing need to develop and deploy tools that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

In this area, innovation plays a central role. According to the World Economic Forum, AI is set to deliver up to USD 1.3 billion of economic value per year to the energy sector by 2030, revolutionising operations from predictive maintenance to real-time grid optimisation and offering unprecedented opportunities to create value along the entire energy chain (including in Italy). Simplifying decision-making processes, reducing costs, developing new areas of global business and local economies, and training the young professionals needed to keep up with the pace of change appear among the most promising areas.

Also at the heart of the agenda are hydrogen and low-carbon fuels. From 2020 to 2024, the number of hydrogen projects that reached the FID (Final Investment Decision) increased from 102 to 434, with an increase in investment from USD 10 billion to USD 75 billion. According to the Hydrogen Council and McKinsey, hydrogen could help reduce up to 80 GT of CO₂ by 2050. The EU aims to meet 10 per cent of energy demand with renewable hydrogen by 2030, allocating - through Horizon Europe alone - more than EUR 184 million to its deployment.

But the transition also requires finance. BloombergNEF estimates that Europe alone will need $32 trillion in energy investments by mid-century. For this reason, one of the tables at the "Gastech Energy Club" (an invitation-only forum that this year will welcome 1,000 members, 300 Round Table participants and 17 private suites) will be reserved for how to mobilise global financing for innovative energy projects.

At a time of great transformation, Gastech becomes for four days the global centre of the energy debate, a place where industrial vision, strategic choices and political consensus intertwine to build the future of the planet. The opportunity is huge and starts from Milan, the economic capital of Italy as Europe's natural energy 'hub'.