The ENERGISE Centre will hold its 1st Annual Symposium from 14-17 September 2026 at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Under the title “Co-Creating a Just Energy Transition,” the symposium marks an important milestone in the establishment of the African-German Centre for Just Energy Transition. It will bring together academics, government representatives, policymakers, industry leaders, development partners, funding organisations and civil society stakeholders from South Africa, Germany and the wider international community.

The symposium will provide a platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange and collaboration on practical pathways towards a just, inclusive and sustainable energy future.

Programme highlights

The four-day programme combines strategic dialogue, interdisciplinary research and teaching activities, Living Lab engagement and networking.

Highlights include:

• the official opening of the ENERGISE Centre;
• high-level keynote addresses and policy discussions on the Just Energy Transition;
• interdisciplinary research workshops across the Centre’s main research areas;
• discussions on ENERGISE Living Labs and entrepreneurial ecosystems;
• a site visit to the Wits Living Lab in Mpumalanga;
• the final presentations of the ENERGISE Sustainable Business Model Competition; and
• strategic discussions on future research, education and policy collaboration.

ENERGISE research at the Symposium

A central part of the programme will be dedicated to ENERGISE Research for a Just Energy Transition. Parallel workshops will bring together researchers working across three main areas:

• Scenarios of Future Projections – National Energy System Modelling
• Grid Integration and Operations – Dynamic System Modelling and Grid Codes
• Energy Access and Affordability – Decentralised Mini-Grids and Community Solutions

The workshops will create space for exchange across disciplines and partner institutions and support the further development of the Centre’s joint research agenda.

From research to practice

The symposium will also highlight the role of ENERGISE Living Labs in connecting research with implementation.

On 15 September, participants will visit the Wits Living Lab in Ermelo, Mpumalanga, where the programme includes community engagement and the official launch of the ENERGISE Wits Living Lab cluster.

Further Living Lab discussions during the symposium will address mini-grids in peri-urban and rural areas, entrepreneurial ecosystems and policy approaches supporting a Just Energy Transition.

Strengthening African-German collaboration

The Annual Symposium brings together the ENERGISE community and external stakeholders to strengthen collaboration across research, education, innovation and policy engagement.

By connecting partners from South Africa and Germany with representatives from government, industry, development organisations and civil society, the symposium aims to support interdisciplinary exchange and jointly shape the Centre’s activities for the coming years.

The 1st ENERGISE Annual Symposium represents an important step in building the Centre’s research and collaboration network and in advancing joint approaches towards a just, inclusive and sustainable energy transition.