2025 marked a key year of progress for EMERGE. The project moved from core system development into full operational deployment of its knowledge-exchange architecture, scientific modelling outputs and capacity-building mechanisms across AU–EU energy cooperation frameworks. In 2025, EMERGE submitted its First Periodic Report and held its first Review Meeting on 25 July 2025. Both were positively received, reflecting the project’s smooth progress and successful implementation to date. Later in the year, EMERGE convened its second physical General Assembly on 17 October 2025 in Praia, Cabo Verde, fostering direct collaboration and strategic planning among consortia. Throughout the year, EMERGE strengthened its Common System Architecture and Toolbox, while institutionalising AU–EU and AU–AU exchange formats that connect modelling science with policymaking, investment planning and local implementation contexts.

Launch and Consolidation of the AU–EU Exchange

The year opened with the 1st AU–EU Exchange in Paris (Artelys, January 2025), officially launching EMERGE’s structured capacity-building cycle through advanced training on the CEPIA and METRIX energy-planning tools.

This was followed by the 2nd AU–EU Exchange in Zaragoza (CIRCE, May 2025), which delivered hands-on training on grid modelling, storage optimisation, smart grids and energy-market tools, consolidating Toolbox-driven energy-planning competencies among African and European partners.

The 3rd AU–EU Exchange in Zagreb (UNIZAG FSB, September 2025) further strengthened institutional application, focusing on GREENADVISE, a planning tool supporting local and regional authorities in energy system decision-making.

Toolbox-Driven Scientific Consolidation

Throughout 2025, EMERGE partners published multiple peer-reviewed scientific papers providing data-driven modelling insights on long-term energy demand forecasting, electricity load modelling, the impacts of electric-vehicle integration, renewable-powered desalination within the water–energy nexus, and the stakeholder co-creation of national energy models in Morocco, Mozambique and Mali.

These publications established EMERGE’s scientific backbone for evidence-based energy policy and planning.

Strengthening Intra-African Cooperation

EMERGE expanded its exchange architecture beyond AU–EU formats through the 1st AU–AU Study Visit in Abuja (AfriLabs, July 2025).
The visit brought together policymakers, technical experts and innovation leaders from Nigeria, Mali, Morocco and Mozambique, fostering inclusive, locally rooted and scalable energy solutions.

Institutional Consolidation and Governance Engagement

In autumn 2025, EMERGE strengthened its institutional footprint through participation in key international and policy-oriented events, including the 20th SDEWES Conference in Dubrovnik, the European Climate and Energy Modelling Platform (ECEMP) 2025 showcasing African perspectives on clean and affordable transport, and the LEAP-RE Annual Event 2025, where the project contributed to the Grid Modelling clustering session.

In parallel, EMERGE organised its 2nd Co-Design Workshop and second physical General Assembly in Praia, Cabo Verde (ECREEE), held alongside the ONEPlanET Final Event.
Partners reviewed progress on the EMERGE Common System Architecture, Toolbox deployment, policy integration and pilot demonstrations, reinforcing alignment between modelling development, stakeholder engagement and implementation pathways.

EMERGE’s 2025 achievements were made possible through the generous collaboration and hosting support from all the consortium partners.

As EMERGE enters 2026, its final project year, the focus will be on consolidating pilot demonstrations, strengthening policy-relevant modelling, and further anchoring the EMERGE Toolbox within national and regional energy-planning contexts within AU.