On April 9, Phil Taylor, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bath, UK, visited Tsinghua University. Zeng Rong, Executive Vice President of Tsinghua University, presented the certificate of honorary professorship to Phil Taylor. On the same day, Phil Taylor visited the Department of Electrical Engineering and Applied Electronics (EEA) of Tsinghua University and delivered a keynote speech at the 268th session of Tsinghua Distinguished Overseas Lecture Series, entitled System Flexibility and Multi-Energy Approaches for Low Carbon and Resilient Energy Systems.
Zeng Rong Presenting the Honorary Professorship Certificate to Phil Taylor
Zeng Rong extended congratulations to Phil Taylor on his appointment as honorary professor of Tsinghua University. He pointed out that Tsinghua University and the University of Bath boast a solid cooperation foundation in a wide range of disciplines, especially in electrical engineering and energy systems. As a scientist in the energy system field with outstanding international influence, Phil Taylor has made pivotal contributions to advancing exchanges and cooperation between the two universities. He expressed his expectation that Phil Taylor would further promote in-depth and diversified cooperation between the two sides in broader fields in the future, and facilitate dialogue and mutual understanding between the two countries.
Phil Taylor stated that he felt greatly honored to be appointed honorary professor of Tsinghua University. He pledged to further expand academic exchanges and cooperation with faculty and students of Tsinghua University, boost disciplinary development and academic progress in more fields such as energy transition and climate change, and achieve new breakthroughs in collaborative research on cutting-edge science and technology as well as joint training of international talents.
Following the meeting, Professor Taylor attended Tsinghua Distinguished Overseas Lecture Series. Kang Chongqing, Dean of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Applied Electronics (EEA), Director of Tsinghua University Energy Internet Innovation Research Institute, and Director of Tsinghua University Sichuan Energy Internet Research Institute, delivered an opening speech. Sun Kai, Deputy Dean of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Applied Electronics (EEA), presided over the lecture event.
More than 100 experts, scholars, faculty and student representatives from China and the UK attended the event on site, including Zhou Xiaoxin, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Honorary President of China Electric Power Research Institute; Li Ruomei, Chair of the Energy Efficiency Working Group of the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO) and Former Secretary-General of the Chinese Society for Electrical Engineering (CSEE); Professor Furong Li from the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Bath; Pete Nuttall, Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Global Engagement) of the University of Bath; Dörte Stevenson, Director of International Relations at the University of Bath; as well as He Jinliang and Dong Xinzhou, professors from the Department of Electrical Engineering and Applied Electronics (EEA) of Tsinghua University.
Kang Chongqing Delivering an Opening Speech
Kang Chongqing noted in his opening speech that against the backdrop of the global energy system accelerating its shift to low-carbon and digital development, strengthening international academic cooperation is of great significance for driving disciplinary innovation and cultivating high-level talents. He pointed out that Professor Taylor has long led research on smart grids, energy storage technologies and low-carbon power systems, and played an important role in the development of UK national-level energy innovation projects and the formulation of energy policies. He hoped that this exchange would serve as an opportunity to further deepen bilateral cooperation in new power systems and energy transition.
Professor Taylor delivered an academic report themed System Flexibility and Multi-Energy Approaches for Low Carbon and Resilient Energy Systems at the Distinguished Overseas Lecture Series, systematically introducing the UK’s energy transition practices and latest research progress. He noted that with the continuous rise in the proportion of renewable energy power generation, deep decarbonization still faces challenges including insufficient system flexibility and increased operational complexity, making multi-energy synergy and system resilience enhancement the critical pathways.
The report focused on cutting-edge directions such as real-time thermal capacity assessment technologies, multi-scenario applications of energy storage, and integrated electricity-gas-hydrogen energy systems, and shared new technologies including power grid risk prediction methods based on meteorological data, providing new ideas for the safe and stable operation of power systems with a high proportion of new energy. Professor Taylor emphasized that amid climate change and energy transition, the uncertainty of future energy systems keeps growing, and strengthening international cooperation is essential to jointly tackle global challenges.
Taylor Delivering a Speech at Tsinghua Distinguished Overseas Lecture Series
During the interactive session, participating faculty and students held in-depth discussions on hot topics including the market mechanism for distributed energy flexibility and coordinated operation of data center energy systems. Professor Taylor answered questions one by one, introduced the latest progress in the transformation of the UK’s distribution system operation model, and explored practical pathways to synergistically improve the energy efficiency and economic value of data centers through waste heat utilization, energy storage participation in electricity markets, and computility scheduling optimization.
Li Ruomei Delivering a Speech
Li Furong Delivering a Speech
Zhong Haiwang Delivering a SpeechOn-site Q&A Session
Zhou Xiaoxin stated in his concluding remarks that the report put forward inspiring academic perspectives on enhancing power grid flexibility and building energy system resilience, which carry important reference value for the construction of China’s new power system. He also looked forward to further deepening long-term cooperation between Tsinghua University and the University of Bath.
Zhou Xiaoxin Delivering a Speech
Towards the end of the event, Kang Chongqing presented a commemorative plaque of Tsinghua Distinguished Overseas Lecture Series to Professor Taylor, symbolizing the continuous deepening of bilateral friendship and cooperation. Both sides stated that they would take this visit as a new starting point to further expand cooperation in smart grids, integrated energy systems, energy digitalization and other fields, and jointly promote global energy transition and sustainable development.
Kang Chongqing Presenting a Commemorative Plaque to Taylor
A group photo was taken of all attendees. The Distinguished Overseas Lecture Series came to a successful conclusion in a warm atmosphere.
Group Photo of Attendees
Tsinghua University’s Distinguished Overseas Lecture Series is a high-level, cutting-edge and serialized lecture program for all faculty and students of the university, integrating Tsinghua’s high-end international exchange resources. Since its launch in 2007, the series has held 268 sessions, with speakers covering Nobel laureates, renowned scholars, foreign dignitaries, presidents of world-famous universities, senior executives of multinational corporations and other distinguished figures. It has become an important platform for the university to broaden the international vision of faculty and students and deepen global cooperation.
