Hong Kong PolyU establishes grid modernisation research centre

June 4, 2024 Editor

PolyU-Autosun Joint Laboratory for Sustainable PowerTech Research in Modern Grid is officially inaugurated. Image courtesy PolyU

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has established the Research Centre for Grid Modernisation (RCGM).

The Centre aims to foster innovations and applications for modernisation of the power grid and the development of novel electric power systems.

In a release, PolyU cites increases in extreme weather events, unpredictable climate patterns, and the aging of power networks and equipment as factors that have collectively led to a rise in the frequency of major power outages globally.

The reliability of global power supply is facing unprecedented challenges, highlighting the urgent need for innovative solutions in current power and energy systems, which is where the RCGM comes in.

The Hong Kong research centre aims to establish an international platform for grid modernisation for exchange and collaboration with academia, industry and governments worldwide. Additionally, it aims to facilitate R&D and knowledge transfer, demonstration and deployment of cutting-edge electric grid and sustainable energy technologies, while powering future smart and carbon-neutral zones in the Greater Bay Area.

Commenting during a launch ceremony Dr Hao Yingjie said, “The establishment of the PolyU RCGM signifies a concrete step toward developing new power systems.

“This initiative aims to consolidate industry expertise, foster cooperation throughout upstream and downstream of the industry chain and support the transition to clean and low-carbon energy.

“The China Electricity Council will collaborate with PolyU and other tertiary institutions in exploring and promoting the establishment of new regional power systems, thereby facilitating the evolution and enhancement of the power industry and the implementation of new energy systems. Ultimately, this endeavour seeks to accomplish the ‘double carbon’ goal.”

^{The launch ceremony of the Research Centre for Grid Modernisation was attended by officiating guests including Mr Tse Chin-wan (9th from left), Secretary for Environment and Ecology of the HKSAR Government; Dr Hao Yingjie (6th from left), Secretary-General of the China Electricity Council; Mr Qian Chaoyang (8th from left), President of China Southern Power Grid Company Limited; Prof. Jin-Guang Teng, PolyU President (9th from right); Prof. Christopher Chao (7th from left), PolyU Vice President (Research and Innovation) and Director of the Policy Research Centre for Innovation and Technology; Ir Alfred Sit Wing-hang (1st from left), Professor of Practice (Electrical Engineering) and Adjunct Professor of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering of PolyU, Honorary Director of RCGM, former Secretary for Innovation and Technology, and Director of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department of the HKSAR Government; and Prof. Chung Chi-yung (1st from right), Head of the PolyU Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Chair Professor of Power Systems Engineering, and RCGM Director. Image courtesy PolyU}

According to Prof. Chung Chi-yung, Hong Kong provides a strategic location for the centre due to its status as an international metropolis with significant population density and high-rise buildings calling for immense power supply.

“This provides an ideal backdrop for R&D, including demonstration, testing and application of innovative technologies in grid modernisation for a smart city of the future.

“Moreover, the Hong Kong government’s vision of transforming the city into a global hub for innovation and technology is backed by robust funding and policy support. We aim to establish the Centre as a leading global hub for collaborative research and knowledge transfer in electric grid modernisation to enable a secure and sustainable energy supply.”

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Added Prof. Jin-Guang Teng: “With the societal need for grid modernisation and PolyU’s unwavering commitment to innovation and sustainability, RCGM will serve as an internationally recognised platform to attract and nurture global talents to develop cutting-edge technologies and transfer them to solve the challenges and problems faced by the power and electricity industries.”

According to PolyU, RCGM has already garnered significant support from various organisations and tertiary institutions, serving as inaugural partners.

In addition, the Centre invited five distinguished experts and scholars who have made remarkable contributions to the field of energy and power to join as honorary advisors.

These honorary advisors include prof. Zhou Xiaoxin and Prof. Cheng Shijie, academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, as well as prof. Xue Yusheng and Prof. Yu Yixin, who are academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

Furthermore, prof. C.C. Chan, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, chair professor of the PolyU Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and director of the Research Centre for Electric Vehicles, also serves as an honorary advisor of RCGM.

During the centre’s launch event, RCGM and Shenzhen Auto Electric Power Plant Company Limited announced their partnership in establishing the PolyU-Autosun Joint Laboratory for Sustainable PowerTech Research in Modern Grid.

This collaborative effort aims to propel research and development in electric vehicle charging technology, smart microgrids, new energy storage systems and safety and health monitoring systems for power equipment.