The SMM Germany Solar Forum 2026 takes place on 23 June at the Hotel Novotel München Messe in Munich, gathering procurement professionals, battery raw materials traders, and solar supply chain executives for a half-day programme focused on European photovoltaic deployment, energy storage economics, and critical mineral pricing dynamics. Registration is free.
The event is organised by Shanghai Metals Market (SMM), the Shanghai-based price reporting agency whose lithium, cobalt, and graphite benchmarks underpin much of the global battery supply chain. This is SMM’s dedicated European forum for the renewable energy sector, separate from its broader metals conference calendar.
SMM Germany Solar Forum 2026 — Key Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Event name | SMM Germany Solar & Energy Storage Forum 2026 |
| Date | Tuesday, 23 June 2026 |
| Time | 14:00–18:00 local (CEST) |
| Venue | Hotel Novotel München Messe, Munich, Germany |
| Format | Half-day forum with panel sessions and networking |
| Registration | Free — pre-registration required via SMM event portal |
| Organiser | Shanghai Metals Market (SMM) |
The venue sits adjacent to Munich’s main exhibition grounds at Messe München, making it accessible to attendees of concurrent trade events in the region. The half-day format — running from 14:00 to 18:00 CEST — is designed for senior attendees who cannot commit to multi-day conference programmes.
Agenda and Confirmed Speakers
The SMM Germany Solar Forum 2026 programme covers five core areas: European photovoltaic and energy storage deployment trajectories; project economics and grid connection constraints; forward pricing for solar PV components and battery raw materials including lithium; EU supply chain regulatory bottlenecks; and the official release of SMM’s renewable energy industry rankings — proprietary data not published in advance.
Confirmed speakers include Jan Fousek, CEO of AKU-BAT CZ (Czech Association for Energy Storage), who will address the permitting environment and grid capacity constraints facing European ESS developers. Michael Strobel, Business Director Europe at Great Power, joins alongside Ksenia Dray, Global Solar Supply Chain Leader at RES Group, covering procurement and sourcing from a developer perspective.
Why SMM Germany Solar Forum 2026 Matters for Technology Metals
Solar photovoltaic and energy storage deployments in Europe are the primary end-use driver for several technology metals covered by this publication. Battery-grade graphite — the dominant anode material in lithium-ion ESS cells — and lithium carbonate are both priced through SMM benchmarks, making SMM forums a relevant venue for price-sensitive procurement decisions. EU installer and developer attendees will have direct access to SMM pricing analysts at this event.
The forum’s supply chain session is expected to address EU regulatory friction, including evolving Net Zero Industry Act targets for domestic battery manufacturing capacity and the sourcing constraints that flow from Chinese export controls on processing-stage materials. IEA data projects European battery demand reaching 1,000 GWh annually by 2030 — a trajectory that makes European supply chain resilience a live commercial and policy concern rather than a long-range planning question.
SMM’s decision to hold a dedicated European solar forum reflects growing demand from EU-based buyers for direct access to Chinese benchmark price data and sourcing intelligence, particularly as spot lithium prices remain under pressure from oversupply and EU policy frameworks continue to evolve.
Who Should Attend the SMM Germany Solar Forum 2026
The event targets senior professionals across the European solar and energy storage supply chain: procurement managers at PV installers and ESS integrators; battery raw materials traders active in lithium, cobalt, and European critical minerals supply chains; project developers navigating grid permitting timelines; and policy analysts tracking EU battery regulation. Fund managers with exposure to European clean energy infrastructure will also find the SMM pricing data release of interest.
The free-to-attend format and half-day schedule make this a practical addition for attendees already in Munich or the broader DACH region during late June.
Location and Travel
Munich’s Hotel Novotel München Messe is located at Messestadt Riem, directly connected to the airport by the S8 S-Bahn line in approximately 40 minutes. The venue is a standard conference hotel within the exhibition quarter — no special transport or accommodation arrangements required for regional attendees. Munich Airport serves direct routes from London, Amsterdam, Paris, Warsaw, and most major European hubs.
When and where is the SMM Germany Solar Forum 2026?
The SMM Germany Solar Forum 2026 takes place on Tuesday, 23 June 2026, from 14:00 to 18:00 CEST at the Hotel Novotel München Messe in Munich, Germany.
Who organises the SMM Germany Solar Forum?
The forum is organised by Shanghai Metals Market (SMM), a Shanghai-based price reporting agency covering battery raw materials, base metals, and industrial minerals. SMM operates the metal.com data platform and publishes benchmark prices for lithium, cobalt, graphite, and related materials.
What topics are covered at the SMM Germany Solar Forum 2026?
The forum covers European photovoltaic and energy storage deployment, battery raw material pricing including lithium, EU supply chain regulatory frameworks, project economics and grid connection constraints, and the release of SMM’s proprietary renewable energy industry rankings.
How do I register for the SMM Germany Solar Forum 2026?
Registration is free but pre-registration is required through SMM’s official event portal at metal.com. Search for the 2026 SMM Germany Solar & Energy Storage Forum on the SMM events page.
What other critical minerals events take place in summer 2026?
The Critical Minerals Events 2026 guide on this site covers the full conference calendar. Key summer events include the SMM Germany Solar Forum in Munich (23 June) and various EU battery and clean energy summits running through Q3 2026.
