Skip to content

Review of the vgbe KELI 2026 – Conference on Electrical, Control, and Information Technology in Energy Supply

The topics covered at KELI 2026 could hardly have been more timely or exciting.
  • 10. June 2026
How do we respond to digital and physical attacks on critical infrastructure? When will the next blackout occur? What role do drones, geopolitical factors, or AI applications play? And what can we learn from one another regarding IT/OT security and electrical engineering in energy facilities? One thing was clear: the topics covered at KELI 2026 could hardly have been more timely or exciting. Nearly 50 speakers delivered 40 presentations, spread across eleven thematically organized sections. The KELI community was larger than it had been in a long time: 250 participants made their way to Mannheim before Pentecost, to the grand hall with the purple columns—a setting perfectly in line with KELI’s branding.
The opening remarks by vgbe Managing Director Dr. Oliver Then made it clear what challenges the industry is currently facing. With regard to the agreed-upon coal phase-out, the new Power Plant Strategy Act, and the debate over new gas-fired power plant capacity, Then spoke candidly about the need for binding political commitments to invest in flexible gas-fired power generation capacity. He repeatedly drew laughter from the audience with his dry humor—for example, with the remark that “what lasts a long time doesn’t automatically turn out well.”
Dr Oliver Then
At the same time, Then made it clear how seriously the situation is viewed: security of supply, system stability, and economic burdens continue to concern vgbe member companies. Equally compelling, though rhetorically not for the faint of heart, was the plenary presentation by RWE IT expert Andreas Jambor on the new threat landscape for critical infrastructure. His central message: Attacks on energy facilities are no longer merely hypothetical scenarios. Physical sabotage, espionage attempts, hybrid attacks, and drones are increasingly becoming real threats to operators of critical infrastructure. According to Jambor, geopolitical conflicts, tensions on global markets, and the outflow of expertise also influence potential threat scenarios. He discussed in detail new EU regulations, NIS2 directives, KRITIS requirements, and their significance for facility operators. Today, the focus of many security concepts is not on whether an attack will occur, but when. It affects every single person in the audience—not just companies, not just hospitals or public life, but also individuals in their private homes—especially in light of the widespread blackouts in Spain and Portugal in 2025 and the one in parts of Berlin in early 2026.
The field trips organized as part of the KELI conference were very well received by participants
The presentation on MVV’s large-scale heat pump in Mannheim, among other things, demonstrated how the energy transition is now being implemented in industrial projects. There, thermal energy is extracted directly from the river and harnessed for district heating using heat pump technology. Participants had the opportunity to explore the facility on-site during a technical tour on the very first day of the conference. The exclusive tour of the ABB Campus Mannheim also generated significant interest, with the Automation Forum—and its modern automation and digitalization solutions—making a particularly strong impression. In fact, ABB was a constant presence throughout the entire event—both through numerous technical presentations and within the exhibition itself. No wonder: Mannheim is one of the group’s most important German locations. The topic of cybersecurity and OT security also took center stage. Several presentations made it clear that security incidents are now considered inevitable. The ability to remain operational even in a crisis is therefore crucial. Among other things, the presentations covered pragmatic attack detection systems, co-managed SOC concepts, recovery processes, and OT emergency drills. Particularly striking was a scenario in which multiple sites were affected simultaneously and initially had no mutual communication—a realistic crisis scenario that visibly affected many participants.
to the photo gallery
Exhibitor Siemens Energy Impresses with a Culinary Surprise

In addition to the technical presentations, the exhibition also played a central role at the conference. Since all breaks were deliberately held directly in the exhibition area, the booths were practically bustling with activity throughout. Manufacturers, service providers, and operators made intensive use of the opportunity to discuss new projects, technologies, and industry challenges. The exhibitors were accordingly pleased with the response. However, the most unusual highlight of the exhibition was a nostalgic ice cream truck at the Siemens Energy booth. There, the inventor of spaghetti ice cream, Dario Fontanella, personally served his famous creation to the participants. Many of the approximately 250 guests lined up at times for the dessert, which was invented in Germany but is largely unknown in Italy itself. The evening event at the boathouse on the banks of the Rhine in Mannheim ultimately provided the perfect balance to two intensive days of the conference. During a group walk along the Neckar and later over good food and long conversations, discussions continued late into the evening—covering grid stability, hydrogen, AI, regulations, blackout scenarios, and the future of energy supply.

You can find all the information about the event, the exhibitors, and the presentations in the program here.

New articles

Subscribe to our newsletter