The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and China Southern Power Grid Co., Ltd. (CSG) have signed an agreement to jointly establish the “Joint Institute for Green and Secure Power Grid”. Led by the Faculty of Construction and Environment (FCE) and the Faculty of Engineering (FENG) of PolyU, the long-term and in-depth strategic collaboration aims to build up a highly competitive and interdisciplinary research team in the fields of green and secure management of power equipment and green and safe power supply for smart cities to foster the development of new power systems.
Promoting new power systems using new energy sources such as wind and solar with high security, openness and adaptability are crucial to meet the growing demand for clean electricity while achieving the country's "peak carbon" and "carbon neutral" goals. Aiming to contribute to the transformation and upgrading of the national power system, PolyU will combine its existing strong research expertise with the complementary strengths of CSG to conduct various innovative research on green energy.
CSG plans to invest RMB 30 million in the upcoming five years to support PolyU in carrying out a series of fundamental and forward-looking research projects. An interdisciplinary research team involving members from six departments of FCE and FE of PolyU has already been formed, covering the area of smart sensing, edge computing, big data, numerical simulation and advanced materials, etc., with a focus on digital twin technology of power equipment and the digitalisation of electric power distribution to provide safe and stable operation of the new power system.
Under the Joint Institute for Green and Secure Power Grid, PolyU and CSG will actively participate in major provincial and national projects to achieve technological breakthrough and contribute to national energy security.
The collaboration agreement was signed by Professor Christopher Chao, Vice-President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU and Mr Wang Hongzhi, General Manager of CSG, and witnessed by Professor Xu Kai, Deputy Director of Education and Technology Department, Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Mr PENG Wenjun Bryan, Head of Innovation and Technology (Greater Bay Area) at Invest Hong Kong, Professor Teng Jinguang, President of PolyU, Mr. Liang Qinru, the Deputy Director-general of the Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province, Mr Wang Hongzhi, General Manager of CSG, and Mr Zhang Wenfeng, Vice President of CSG during the ceremony on September 8, 2022.
Prof Jin-Guang Teng said, "PolyU and SCG have been working together for a long time. The establishment of the joint research institute now deepens the partnership between the two parties. Our research team will mainly base on new energy sources, promote the construction of new power systems and research and development of new green technologies for smart cities, as so to contribute to the country's "peak carbon" and "carbon neutral" goals.
Mr Wang Hongzhi, General Manager of CSG. said, “We are joining hands with PolyU to carry out comprehensive cooperation in technology innovation and talent exchange, promoting the development of new power systems through the Joint Institute. This partnership realises in-depth exchanges between industry, academic and research sectors, thus providing strong support for building the Greater Bay Area into a national model for high-quality economic, social and technological development.”
In addition to joint research projects, the collaboration aims to cultivate a group of high-level interdisciplinary experts to form a research force for building new power systems.
Prof Christopher Chao, Vice President (Research and Innovation), remarked, “PolyU has been actively contributing to the development of green technology and providing innovative solutions by leveraging its expertise in different disciplines to respond to global challenges. This collaboration with CSG will facilitate academic exchange and resource sharing, effectively support academics to conduct various research activities, and nurture research talents simultaneously for promoting major research projects in the area.”
Professor Du Yaping, Director of the Joint Institute for Green and Secure Power Grid, said, "The interdisciplinary Joint Institute will focus on exploring the application of green and safe technologies in the field of power transmission and distribution to solve the pain points and difficulties in the construction of new power systems and will greatly promote the innovation and technology development of Hong Kong.”
China Southern Power Grid Co. Ltd.
China Southern Power Grid (CSG), a major state-owned enterprise under the auspices of the State Council, guarantees electrical power supply services for Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, Guizhou, Hainan, Hong Kong SDR and Macao SDR. The Company connects the power grids in Hong Kong, Macao and Southeast Asian countries with the service area spanning more than one million square km2 and reaching over 254 million people.
