The International Energy Workshop brought together leading energy modelling experts in Cape Town, with CMCC playing a key scientific and institutional role.

The 44th edition of the International Energy Workshop (IEW) took place at the University of Cape Town in Cape Town, South Africa, on 22–24 June 2026, bringing together leading scholars and researchers in the international energy modelling community.

IEW is one of the longest-running global forums in the field, and over the past four decades it has become a key reference point for comparing modelling approaches, sharing methodological advances, and discussing emerging challenges in energy systems and policy making. Its 44th edition further confirms its role as a central platform for advancing the frontier of energy and climate research.

This year’s return to Cape Town carries particular significance. After more than a decade, the workshop is again hosted in Africa — a continent that plays a crucial role in global energy transitions. With vast renewable energy potential, from solar resources in the Sahel and Southern Africa to wind, hydro and geothermal energy, Africa is central to any realistic pathway towards global decarbonisation. At the same time, the continent faces pressing challenges related to energy access, affordability, and just transition, making it a critical lens for understanding the equity dimensions of energy policy.

The CMCC actively contributes to IEW both scientifically and institutionally. The Centre manages the IEW Secretariat, supporting the organisation and continuity of the workshop, and plays a key leadership role in its governance. Massimo Tavoni, Director of the European Institute on Economics and the Environment at CMCC, serves as one of the workshop’s co-directors and is also a member of the Program Committee, reinforcing CMCC’s long-standing commitment to advancing innovation in energy systems modelling.

CMCC researchers also contribute to the scientific programme with several presentations. These include work on climate policy, industrial decarbonisation, trade dynamics, and energy demand transformation across sectors and regions.

More information: International Energy Workshop | IEW 2026