METSTRADE 2025 — Driving the Future of Leisure Marine Innovation

The 2025 edition of METSTRADE has positioned itself as a landmark event for the leisure-marine equipment, systems, and materials sector. Running from 18–20 November at the RAI Amsterdam in the Netherlands, this year’s show emphasizes innovation, sustainability and electrification across the marine ecosystem. 

With nearly 1,700 exhibitors and a full program of conferences, specialist zones and showcase areas, METSTRADE 2025 is being called the largest edition yet. 

For professionals in the alternative-fuel, electric/hybrid propulsion and marine-mobility space (which aligns closely with your interests at Alt Fueler), this year’s show offers critical content, networking and market intelligence relevant to fleets, alternative fuel vehicles, marine charging/propulsion solutions, and zero-emission maritime strategies.

Below is a breakdown of the key sessions, zones and features related to electric & hybrid propulsion, followed by a special section on foiling/hydrofoil technology, which also plays strongly into efficiency, alternative-drive and advanced marine systems.

Electric & Hybrid Propulsion Sessions and Zones

Key Zones & Showcase Areas

• The “Next Generation Propulsion Showcase” (part of the Specialist Zones) is a dedicated area for electric and hybrid marine propulsion, alternative fuels and zero-emission solutions. 

• Within the “Stages, Innovations & Networking” program, METSTRADE lists the Next Generation Propulsion Showcase as one of the headline special areas. 

• The Content Program spans multiple stages (Metstrade Stage, Superyacht Stage, North America Stage, Foiling Stage, etc.), offering panels, workshops and keynote sessions around emerging technologies including electrification and hybridisation. 

Notable Sessions (as publicly announced)

While full session-by-session detail is not yet publicly available, publicly announced elements include:

• On the “Metstrade Stage” (Hall 13) there will be sessions including “Turning Insights into Action” (sustainability), AI in ship/yacht design, circular composites, etc. 

• On the “Foiling Stage” (within the Foiling Technology Zone, Hall 7) there will be nine sessions exploring foiling technology, sustainability, market development and adoption. 

Why this matters for electric/hybrid propulsion

• The expansion of the Next Generation Propulsion zone shows a strong industry-focus on electrified/hybrid solutions—not just product display but also peer-learning. 

• The integration of sessions on regulation, lifecycle assessment (LCA), market conditions, circularity and sustainability means that electrification is being discussed not just as a product substitution, but as part of a broader systems transition. 

• For fleets, boatbuilders, propulsion component manufacturers and marina/infrastructure operators, the program offers high-value content on the operational, regulatory and supply-chain angles of electrification and hybridization.

Recommended Sessions & Zones to Attend

• Next Generation Propulsion Showcase – walk the zone, meet exhibitors of electric/hybrid drives, alternative fuels, battery systems.

• Metstrade Stage – Sustainability & Emerging Technologies – attend the sessions on electric/hybrid propulsion, lifecycle modelling, regulation.

• North America Stage – if your interest touches US/Canadian market entry, policy or trends, this stage is valuable for electric/hybrid marine discussions in those geographies.

• Networking events – leverage the Young Professionals Club, Women in the Marine Industry breakfast, Startup zone for connections with innovators in the electrification space.

Foiling / Hydrofoil Technology Special Area

What’s the Foiling Technology Zone?

The Foiling Technology Zone is a specialist area at METSTRADE 2025 (located in Hall 7) focused on the technological advancement of foiling/hydrofoil solutions for both sail and power craft.

According to press information, foiling is now being featured as an innovation which will “feature across the show … including within the Foiling Technology Zone, where visitors can learn how this technology originally developed for racing can be used for recreational boats to improve efficiency and reduce fuel usage”. 

Relevance to Electric/Hybrid Propulsion & Alternative Fuels

Foiling/hydrofoil technology is highly relevant for your interests because:

• Foils reduce hull-drag dramatically, which improves efficiency, thus enabling smaller battery/engine systems and longer range per charge/fuel.

• Combined with electric or hybrid propulsion, foiling can enable “high-speed, low-emissions” craft—relevant for marine fleet operators thinking of alternative-fuel ferry/crew-boat service, high‐performance recreational craft or commercial applications.

• The zone allows for cross-pollination between racing/regatta-derived foiling technologies and mainstream vessel applications (which link to your fleet‐scale alt-fuel markets).

Sessions to Check

While a full schedule is not released publicly, the following are likely or announced:

• Nine sessions on the Foiling Stage covering design, sustainability, foiling market development, adoption strategy. 

• Discussions in the Superyacht Stage include the potential for foiling technology in larger yachts. 

• Embedded in the product zones (e.g., electric propulsion systems for foiling craft) – for instance, a product listing in the Foiling Technology Zone showcases “Electric Propulsion Systems – inboard 40‐450 kW” from NT Systems. 

Key Themes to Explore

• Efficiency gains from foil adoption (drag reduction, fuel/electric savings)

• Integration of foil systems with electric/hybrid drives (power electronics, control, battery sizing)

• Structural, stability and operational implications of foils in leisure vs commercial craft

• Lifecycle assessment and sustainability of foil systems (materials, maintenance, lifespan)

• Transition pathways from racing/elite foils into more mainstream leisure/commercial craft (volume, cost, service)

Why Attend, From a Fleet & Alternative-Fuel Perspective

For someone like you (with strong interest in alternative fuel vehicles, carriers, fueling/charging infrastructure, electrification) METSTRADE 2025 offers several advantages:

• Market intelligence: Get direct insight into the leisure-marine electrification market, hybrid solutions and emerging propulsion technologies—valuable for building your business narrative at Alt Fueler.

• Network building: Meet boat-builders, propulsion manufacturers, system integrators, battery/energy-storage firms, marina/infrastructure operators—relevant contacts for fleet electrification, charging/refit business.

• Content inspiration: The sessions and zones on electric/hybrid propulsion and foiling can inform your proposal decks, stimulus applications (e.g., for California fleets, ZEV infrastructure, marina electrification) especially given regulatory/policy momentum.

• Product sourcing: You can identify new solutions (drives, batteries, foil systems) that can be referenced in your fleet/vehicle/fueling marketplace (Alt Fueler) database, or join carriers/integrators seeking alt-fuel partners.

Suggested Agenda Checklist

• Visit the Next Generation Propulsion Showcase zone early (Hall 13) to identify exhibitors.

• Attend one panel on “Electric & Hybrid Propulsion” on the Metstrade Stage (Hall 13) and one panel on “Foiling Technology” (Hall 7).

• Scan the product lists by keyword: “electric propulsion”, “hybrid marine drive”, “foil/hydrofoil”, “battery system marine”.

• Schedule one networking meeting/day with a propulsion system vendor, one with a refit/marina electrification provider, one with a startup in the “green propulsion” space.

• Collect floor-plan and exhibitor list, mark all stands in Hall 13 (Next Gen Propulsion), Hall 7 (Foiling) and Halls with marine-EV/alternative-fuel relevance.