The debate on energy efficiency now encompasses the entire electronics value chain. It ranges from semiconductors, power supplies, and integrated systems to electromechanics and industrial connection technology. The question of how to best achieve energy efficiency is a recurring theme in almost every application area, from consumer and automotive electronics to industrial systems and devices. As the world's leading trade fair and conference for electronics, electronica brings together companies from across the value chain to discuss the technical challenges and current trends in energy efficiency.
“Energy efficiency is becoming a key requirement for the electronics industry. In electronics, it is clear that today there is demand for efficient products in virtually every sector, from electromechanics and automation to connected industrial applications,” says Caroline Pannier, director of the electronica trade fair.
Energy costs are falling thanks to efficient electronics
Recent studies show that energy efficiency is becoming increasingly important across various sectors. In the automotive sector, Global EV Outlook 2026 shows that electric mobility continues to gain momentum: more than 20 million electric cars were sold worldwide in 2025, meaning that roughly one in four new cars sold is now electric. As a result of this trend, the demand for energy-efficient electronics is growing, from power electronics and charging infrastructure to battery technology.
A study by the Fraunhofer IZM shows that modern technologies are improving energy efficiency. Therefore, the energy needs of mobile networks will only increase moderately in the coming years, despite the increase in data volumes. Energy efficiency is also gaining importance in other sectors, such as electronics manufacturing. McKinsey concludes that it is possible to reduce the energy costs of semiconductor factories by 20 to 30 percent through efficiency measures.
Energy efficiency is usually derived from the system
For the electronics industry, this means that energy efficiency is becoming a strategic factor both in the product itself and in the manufacturing process. This is especially evident in the field of electromechanics. This field deals not only with individual components but also with how connectors, housings, cable routing, and interfaces interact. Low contact resistance, robust connection technology, EMC-compliant design, and easily maintainable systems reduce losses, improve operational reliability, and simplify maintenance. Therefore, the focus is increasingly on the system as a whole, which must be designed to be energy efficient in order to save energy directly at the source.
Electronics offers a platform for efficient electromechanics
Electronics encompasses the entire electronics value chain, which explains the focus on electromechanics. Exhibitors such as Harting, Phoenix Contact, and Weidmüller will be presenting connectors, relays, switches, and cabinet technology, among other products. Harting, for example, specializes in industrial connectivity solutions for data, signal, and power transmission, focusing on applications in the fields of electric mobility, renewable energy, automation, and mechanical engineering.
Phoenix Contact also demonstrates that energy efficiency begins precisely at the electromechanical level, for example, in connectors, terminals, protective enclosures, power supplies, and interface solutions for electrification and automation. Weidmüller's product portfolio includes, among other things, terminal blocks, connectors, printed circuit board connectors, and other components for the safe transmission of energy, signals, and data. Meanwhile, distributor Arrow Electronics, together with its partners, focuses on high-performance electromechanical and passive components designed to improve energy storage and efficiency and reduce losses in applications such as electric mobility, renewable energy systems, and industrial automation
This clearly demonstrates that any visitor seeking energy efficiency in electronics will find it not only in semiconductors and power electronics, but also in the field of electromechanics. At electronica 2026, around 3,500 exhibitors from some 60 countries will present their latest solutions for the "All Electric Society." Topics such as energy efficiency, automation, and the circular economy will also be addressed in the side programs and forums, where participants will discuss technological advancements, regulatory issues, and sustainable concepts for the future.
