The 20th IET International Conference on AC and DC Power Transmission (ACDC 2024) was successfully held in Shanghai, China from July 12 to 15, 2024. Co-hosted by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), Tsinghua University, Huairou Laboratory, and China Electric Equipment Group, the conference gathered leading global experts and scholars to share cutting-edge academic achievements, engineering applications, and industry trends in AC/DC power transmission. Over the four-day event, over 50 academicians and experts delivered keynote and invited presentations; 13 specialized invited sessions and 13 paper presentation sessions were organized; nearly 300 academic papers were presented orally or as posters; approximately 600 attendees participated on-site while live streams attracted about 57,000 online viewers.
ACDC 2024, themed "Innovation and Development of AC/DC Power Transmission Technologies", covered critical topics including UHV AC/DC transmission, VSC-HVDC technology, power system modeling and simulation, and renewable energy grid integration. The conference facilitated technical exchanges and discussions on AC/DC transmission systems, equipment, and components through multiple formats: keynote presentations, invited special reports, paper sessions, poster exhibitions, and technical tours. This diverse program provided participants with a comprehensive platform for in-depth academic and industrial dialogue.
The opening ceremony was addressed by distinguished guests including: Conference Chair Tang Guangfu (Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering & Director of Huairou Laboratory); Co-Chair Bob Cryan (IET Honorary President & Royal Academy of Engineering Fellow); Zhou Qun (Deputy Party Secretary, Director and General Manager of China Electric Equipment Group); Yan Hongguang (Party Committee Secretary and Chairman of Inner Mongolia Power Group); Ben Rotheram (China Director, China-Britain Business Council); and Zeng Rong (Conference Technical Committee Chair & Tsinghua University Vice President). Professor He Jinliang, Chair of the ACDC 2024 Organizing Committee from Tsinghua University, presided over the ceremony.
The conference featured keynote addresses by distinguished global experts: Academician Shu Yinbiao (Chinese Academy of Engineering, CSEE President, IEC President) presented "Innovation Practices and Development Prospects of UHV Power Transmission Technology"; Academician Li Liying (Honorary Chair, CSG Expert Committee) delivered "Evolution and Perspectives on HVDC Transmission"; U.S. National Academy of Engineering member Prof. Dushan Boroyevich (Virginia Tech) explored "Power Electronics Systems for Future Energy Harvesting, Transmission and Distribution"; IEEE Fellow Prof. Sanjib Kumar Panda (National University of Singapore) introduced "Singapore's Floating Application Innovation Lab and Energy Transition"; Prof. He Jinliang (Tsinghua EE Academic Committee Chair) shared "Smart Transmission Lines and Data-Driven Fault Monitoring Methods"; Prof. Drazen Dujic (EPFL Power Electronics Lab Director) discussed "Solid-State Resonant Converters for MVDC Applications"; and Hu Siquan (Deputy General Manager, XJ Group Corporation) presented "Key Technologies for Large-Scale Renewable Energy DC Transmission". The keynote session was chaired by Yu Zhanqing, ACDC 2024 Organizing Committee Chair from Tsinghua University/Huairou Laboratory.
Additionally, the conference featured 13 specialized invited sessions structured across three technical dimensions of AC/DC transmission: components, equipment, and systems. Thematic focuses included: IGCT Devices and Applications; Power Electronics Device/Equipment Simulation; Novel DC Breaking Technologies; DC Transformers; Next-Generation DC Conversion Systems and Equipment; Modeling, Stability Analysis and Control for Large-Scale Renewable Energy DC Transmission Systems; Modeling, Stability Analysis and Control for HVDC Systems; Surface Charge Accumulation and Gas-Solid Interface Flashover Induced by Metallic Particles in HVDC GIS; Calculation, Protection, Testing and Design of Advanced AC/DC Transmission Equipment; Recent Advances in Energy Storage Technologies and Systems; Key Technologies for DC GIS/GIL; Planning and Operation of Distribution Networks and Microgrids; and Theories, Key Technologies and Applications of Source-Side Energy Storage Supporting Renewable Integration. Each session closely aligned with technological frontiers, facilitating robust exchanges and dynamic discussions.
The successful convening of ACDC 2024 was made possible by the meticulous preparations of its organizers: the Tsinghua University Department of Electrical Engineering and Applied Electronics; Huairou Laboratory's New Power System Research Center; XJ Group Corporation; Inner Mongolia Power Group; National Key Laboratory of New Power System Operation and Control; Energy Internet Research Institute, Tsinghua University; Sichuan Energy Internet Research Institute Tsinghua University; CSEE DC Transmission and Power Electronics Committee; and CSEE High Voltage Committee. Substantial support was provided by co-organizers including Beijing Sifang Automation Co., Ltd.; Henan Pinggao Electric Co., Ltd.; Shandong Taikai HVDC Technology Co., Ltd.; Shanghai Linrong Electronic Technology; TBEA Xinjiang New Energy Co., Ltd.; Xi'an XD Power System Co., Ltd.; and CHINT Electric, alongside Beijing Power Equipment Group Co., Ltd.; Rongxin Power Electronic Co., Ltd.; Shenzhen Bronze Sword Technology Co., Ltd.; and Zhuzhou CRRC Qihong Thermal Management Technology. These leading AC/DC transmission enterprises showcased cutting-edge research and products on-site, attracting extensive discussions among global experts.
During the welcome banquet on the evening of July 13, Professor He Jinliang of Tsinghua University and IET Honorary President Bob Cryan jointly presented awards to 25 recipients of the conference-selected Outstanding Papers.
On July 15, attendees visited the ±800kV Fengxian Converter Station – a self-developed, designed, built and operated ultra-high-voltage direct current (UHVDC) transmission project demonstrating China's leading position in the field. This visit provided participants firsthand insights into China's significant achievements in high-voltage DC transmission technology.
The IET International Conference on AC and DC Power Transmission (ACDC), a long-standing prestigious event in the power systems field, has been successfully held across multiple Chinese cities including Beijing and Chengdu since its introduction to China in 2016. As the 20th iteration, ACDC 2024 attracted extensive participation from global industry experts and practitioners. The conference established a vital platform for scholars and technical professionals to exchange knowledge and foster collaborations, significantly advancing international cooperation in transmission technology. This gathering has made positive contributions to innovation breakthroughs and high-quality development in global AC/DC power transmission technologies.
