AQUAWATT 2024: PIACENZAEXPO SETS THE ROUTE TO THE FUTURE OF HYDROPOWER
An extremely positive assessment for Aquawatt’s first edition, the innovative conference with exhibition organised by Piacenza Expo dedicated to the field of hydroelectric and renewable resources. Two event days at Le Mose’s fairground, full of conventions and technical workshops, which aimed at bringing in the spotlight – even in the political and institutional world – not only this green energetic resource’s strategic nature for the national economy, but also any and all unresolved issues regarding interventions – of both maintenance and technological innovation – on certain plants, safety and the importance of maintaining, as much as possible given in compliance with current legislations, these infrastructures’ maintenance in the hands of Italian businesses.
A space for the present and future of hydropower, in the light of the ongoing climate changes which, in the next years, could make the competitive usage of energetic resources a critical issue. Hydropower – as was revealed during the thematic analysis meetings – also appears to be a valid ally in diminishing negative impacts of hydrogeological instabilities, because of its usage specifications and water regulation, therefore increasing the territories’ hydraulic safety.
Although hydropower is Aquawatt’s code word, other renewable resources are not to be forsaken when talking about energetic transition. It is precisely in this field that it is necessary to involve RECs (Renewable Energy Communities), which have been the main topic of the afternoon conference of Wednesday, 30th October at Aquawatt. For this occasion, there have been speeches by Matteo Zulianello from RSE’s energetic development Department, A2A’s Enea Moscon, Anighp-Anipa’s Paolo Cerutti and Roberto Reggi – President of Fondazione di Piacenza e Vigevano, who disclosed the new call for bids, addressed to public bodies, third sector and professional orders, of the Fondazione sulle Comunità energetiche e solidali – already present in the ongoing program designed to oppose energetic destitution.
“We are closing this first edition – states Sergio Copelli, director of Piacenza Expo – with 1.600 participants throughout the two event days and the support of extremely positive feedback coming from both exhibitors and speakers. This important result has been reached also thanks to the effort on human relationships by Piacenza Expo and its efficient management of the Technical panel, which largely contributed in creating an event whose first edition is already Europe-wide. Besides technical contents, Aquawatt was also able to create and strengthen relationships and collaboration among bodies and associations. It is in fact thanks to Aquawatt that we could start a constructive dialogue with Hydro 21, the European Hydropower Centre located in Grenoble, France, for a potential partnership aimed at benefitting our respective events dedicated to the Hydropower field”.
HYDROPOWER AND TERRITORIAL MARKETING
Aquawatt contributed to further stoke the consolidated cultural promotion and territorial marketing activities already conducted by Piacenza Expo for years. At the end of the event opening day, in fact, exhibitors and speakers were invited to a guided tour of the Ricci Oddi Gallery to admire its modern art masterpieces, to which followed a tour through contemporary art in the halls of XNL, thanks to the partnership of Fondazione di Piacenza e Vigevano. The visit among artistic treasures of our land, which was highly appreciated, is an addition to the list of events organised by Piacenza Expo in occasion of its exhibitions.
Next edition October 29-30, 2025 www.aquawatt.it water@piacenzaexpo.it Organized by Piacenza Expo
