On November 11, 2023, the First Alumni Forum of the Renewable Energy Science Salon co-sponsored by the Institute for Global Change Studies of Tsinghua University and the Tsinghua Alumni Renewable Energy Association were held in Beijing. Themed "New Power System with High Renewable Energy Ratio", this forum invited Tsinghua alumni from the sector of renewable energy to exchange developments at scientific frontiers, share industry development experience, explore innovative solutions, promote interdisciplinary collaboration, strengthen the Industry-University-Research integration, and help the large-scale, high-proportion, market-oriented and high-quality development of renewable energy. The forum was hosted by Yu Hongyan, Secretary General of the Tsinghua Alumni Renewable Energy Association.

Ni Weidou delivers a report.

Professor Ni Weidou, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and the Department of Energy and Power Engineering, Tsinghua University, rendered a keynote speech entitled "Development Trend of Renewable Energy Addressing Carbon Peaking and Carbon Neutrality". Starting from the current situation and problems of energy development in China, Prof. Ni pointed out the importance of building a new eco-energy system based on biomass against the background of "carbon peaking and carbon neutrality", proposing to accelerate the planning and development of green substitutes for petroleum. Through technological innovation, we should vigorously develop super-energy biomass fuel, and then draw on the CCUS technology to realize flue gas decarbonization and build a new power system mainly based on new energy. Meanwhile, we can also promote the development of related industries, thus contributing to the realization of the goal of "carbon peaking and carbon neutrality" and promoting rural revitalization and farmers' prosperity.

Yu Hongyan presides over the forum.

Guest speakers: Xie Xiaorong, Bai Jianhua, Alva Wang, Su Jiantao, Li Zheng, Li Bo and Zhang Zhicheng. From top to bottom and from left to right.

Guest speakers: Zhou Yingya, Li Dongfang, Wang Zixi, Yang Zhenbin, Wang Baoguo, Jiang Xinjian and Wang Zhong from top to bottom and from left to right.

Experts and scholars attending the forum conducted in-depth analysis and discussion on the development idea of the new power system, the path of green energy transformation, the role of energy storage and power forecast technology, and the practical exploration of power spot market. The keynote speeches of the salon featured diversified contents, involving the main issues that everyone is concerned about in the process of building a new power system now: how to gradually increase the proportion of renewable energy based on the strong smart grid as the hub platform and the interaction among source, grid, load and storage and multi-energy complementarity; how to ensure the balance between power supply and demand under the regulation of power market through the extensive use of pumped storage, new energy storage and hydrogen energy storage; how the new power system can realize the monitoring, control and management of the power system and improve the energy utilization efficiency and system flexibility with the help of smart grid and digital technology; how to make energy more decentralized, flexible and reliable by developing distributed energy sources, building virtual power plants, microgrids and micro-energy networks; how to establish an energy internet, realize efficient transmission, sharing and trading of energy through intelligent interconnection of power systems, and promote green, efficient and sustainable development of energy; how power forecasting, one of the key technologies in the development of new power system, can play a role in the dispatching operation, power market and management decision of the new power system with a high proportion of renewable energy. It is believed that the construction of the new power system is of great significance to realizing the green transformation of energy, improving energy security and upgrading energy efficiency, and that it is an important foundation for China to achieve the goal of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, implement the new development concept, build a new development pattern, and promote high-quality development.

Luo Yong delivers a report.

According to Professor Luo Yong, President of the Institute for Global Change Studies and Dean of the Department of Earth System Science (DESS) of Tsinghua University, the Institute for Global Change Studies of Tsinghua University, inaugurated in 2010, is a cross-disciplinary research institution jointly established by the DESS, the College of Environment and the Department of Computer Science for the purpose of jointly tackling key problems in the research fields of Earth system observation, Earth system process, Earth system model and Earth system management, promoting the leap-forward development of disciplines, and training compound talents. The Institute for Global Change Studies will continue to hold a series of academic exchange activities, such as the Renewable Energy Science Salon, to promote dialogue and exchange among the education sector, academia, industry, decision makers and the public, and contribute wisdom to China and even the world in solving major problems in tackling climate change and sustainable development.

Group photo of participants

The forum was also conducted online via live broadcast, with a total of 35,000 views. The inaugural meeting of the Energy Committee of the Tsinghua Alumni Association (under preparation) was held during the forum.

Written by Wang Jiayin

Reviewed by Luo Yong