28–30 May 2025, Oujda, Morocco

The EMERGE Project – Energy System Modelling for Green Development of Africa took center stage during the 1st African Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems (SDEWES) in Oujda, Morocco on 28-30 May 2025. The conference gathered experts, researchers, and policymakers from across Africa and Europe to discuss integrated approaches for sustainable development.

A key highlight of EMERGE’s participation was the special session titled “Energy System Modelling for Green Development of Africa”, which took place on Wednesday, 28 May and continued on Thursday, 29 May 2025. This session brought together leading voices from academia and industry to discuss Africa’s leapfrog potential in transitioning directly to resilient and renewable-based energy systems.

Led by Dr. Nikola Matak (University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, Croatia), Project Manager of EMERGE, the session emphasized the importance of local and regional energy planning tools, the adoption of renewable energy technologies, and sustainable infrastructure development. Dr. Matak shared insights from his recent research on improving energy planning processes for action plans tailored to local conditions.

Co-chairing the session was Prof. Smail Zouggar (Mohamed I University of Oujda, UMP, Morocco), a key expert in renewable energy systems and hybrid energy management. Prof. Zouggar’s expertise and long-standing academic leadership in electrical engineering provided a critical local context for the EMERGE discussions.

The session covered a broad spectrum of interrelated topics, including:

• Energy access and equity
• CO₂ and GHG emissions mitigation
• Socio-economic impacts of energy infrastructure
• Tools for energy system modelling and forecasting
• Innovative policy and financing mechanisms

The participation of EMERGE at SDEWES also underlined the project’s goal of fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and capacity-building across African institutions. Through its emphasis on co-creation and knowledge-sharing, EMERGE contributes to shaping future-ready energy systems that are inclusive, efficient, and climate-resilient.

The 1st African SDEWES Conference served as an important milestone for the EMERGE consortium, showcasing the role of European-African cooperation in energy research and demonstrating how robust modelling can support effective policy and investment decisions. The special session was well-attended and sparked valuable dialogue among participants committed to accelerating Africa’s sustainable energy transition.

For more information about 1st African SDEWES Conference, visit:  1st AF SDEWES Conference