2024 ABCP Annual Conference: Climate Change, Energy and Sustainability

Bio:

Professor Yusheng XUE (薛禹胜教授)

Professor Yusheng XUE received MSc degree in Electrical Engineering from EPRI, China in 1981 and PhD degree from the University of Liege, Belgium in 1987. He was elected an academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering in 1995. He is now the Honorary President of State Grid Electric Power Research Institute (SGEPRI or NARI), China. He holds the positions of Adjunct Professor in many universities in China and a conjoint professor of the University of Newcastle in Australia. He was also an honorary professor of the University of Queensland, Australia. He is the Editor-in-Chief of Automation of Electric Power System since 1999, and the Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy.

Abstract:

Dr Pudong Ge

The consensus on climate change drives clean energy development promoting the decarbonisation process toward a zero-carbon and sustainable society. However, renewable dominated energy is increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather events (e.g., earthquakes, flooding) that can simultaneously damage both the cyber and physical infrastructure. Due to the strong interdependence between these infrastructures, they cannot be rapidly and individually recovered. Therefore, a resilience-oriented Communication-Control Co-design framework should be developed to enhance the integration resilience of renewables while leveraging ad-hoc communications. This framework comprehensively explores the potential of localised energy supply using a “mobility4resilience” approach, considering mobile cost and availability.

Bio:

Pudong Ge is a research associate at Imperial College London, where he also earned his PhD in electrical engineering. His primary interests lie in the digitization of energy systems, with a strong focus on power system resilience and cybersecurity. He has an extensive publication record in high-impact journals (e.g., IEEE Transactions) and has presented his work at numerous international conferences (e.g., IEEE PES General Meeting). His research achievements have been recognized with several awards, including Imperial College Global Fellows funded by Turing Grant Scheme, the 2023 IEEE I&CPS Asia PhD Dissertation Challenge Award and the 2022 Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Self-financed Students Abroad.

Abstract:

Dr Ansu Sun

ROARS mission (work package 3) encompasses a comprehensive investigation into the delays, clock stabilities of the laser communication system, to find out the potential development of a software-centric solution to inter-satellite laser-ranging. The scope will primarily involve a multifaceted approach: Design the delay measurement system and measurement circuit to measure the delays and their uncertainties within FPGA-based satellite laser communication components; Design the clock uncertainty measurement system and measurement circuit to measure the uncertainties of the FPGA clock; Formulating a model (Matlab & Simulink) depicting delays and jitters within the satellite laser communication systems and estimate the upper threshold of the proposed software-based inter-satellite laser ranging accuracy and the factors that affect the accuracy.

Bio:

Dr Sun joined Northumbria University as an undergraduate electrical power student in 2013 and continued the postgraduate studies afterward. In 2017, he continued the PhD in the Mechanical Department at Northumbria. His doctoral project was mainly focused on 3D micro-fabrication techniques for soft active materials-based bio-inspired structures and devices. After the PhD, he has been involved in several projects including different fields: improving the efficiency of wireless power transmission, separating nanoparticles in fluids by size, laser ranging in outer space, and improving the efficiency of wind power generation in humid weather.

Abstract:

Dr Chang Yang

The use of renewable energy is at the core of transitioning towards a net-zero economy, whereas how such a transition impacts the corporate sector is unclear. We find exogenous policy shocks to companies’ energy input significantly increases companies’ value of cash and such an effect is stronger for companies facing more stringent policy requirements or having more severe financial constraints, weaker market power, lower internal capital mobility, greater growth opportunities, or higher electricity intensity. Companies’ cash holdings also increase significantly after the policy adoption. Our study demonstrates the precautionary motive becomes more prominent for companies’ asset liquidity when the economy is transitioning away from fossil fuels.

Bio:

Chang Yang is a Postdoctoral Researcher at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and a Visiting Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Manchester. Her research areas include ESG and corporate finance, sustainable finance, green finance, and climate finance. She has been a visiting scholar in the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the University of Texas at Dallas, and Durham University. She was invited to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) as China-UK Youth Scholar Representative. Her research on New Energy Policy has been reported by mainstream Chinese media outlets, including People’s Daily, Economic Daily, China.com, Phoenix News, China Economic Guide, China Reports, China Economic News, etc.

Abstract:

Professor Xin Zhang

Cyber-physical power systems evolve new digital technologies that use advanced information and computing methods to better monitor and control the physical power systems. In this presentation, cyber-physical power system modelling methods investigated by using graph theory and distributed control. Digital Co-simulation platforms are developed which enable the fundamental integration of cyber and physical simulators for the accurate, efficient and large-scale grid simulation. work involves the interfacing design for model-to-model integration of different complex networks, cyber-attack detection and mitigation, and cyber-physical security dispatch algorithms to create a co-optimised analysis of cyber-physical power systems. This work is funded by UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship: “Digitalisation of Electrical Power and Energy Systems Operation”.

Bio:

Xin Zhang is the Professor in Control and Power Systems at University of Sheffield. He is with the Electrical Machines and Drive Group (EMD). Currently, Prof Zhang holds the UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship ‘Digitalisation of Electrical Power and Energy Systems Operation’, and an EPSRC New Investigator Award ‘Grid flexibility through multiscale modelling and integration of power systems with electrified air transport’. His research experience covers power system operation and control, cyber-physical system, and real-time digital grid simulation. Prof Zhang has eight years’ industrial experience from National Grid ESO as the GB Electricity System Operator, where he was professionally trained as a power system engineer in the GB Electricity National Control Centre. His industrial expertise includes power system modelling and operational tools development for energy balancing and network control of the GB power transmission system.

Abstract:

Dr Chao Wu

Hydrogen, as a green energy carrier, possesses advantages over traditional energy sources, such as reducing greenhouse gas and pollutant emissions and exhibiting high onboard fuel efficiency. However, due to its low energy density, hydrogen needs to be compressed to high pressures for storage, ensuring a sufficient energy content within a limited volume for applications like hydrogen fuel stations and fuel cell vehicles. Early pressure vessels and pipelines were predominantly constructed from metal materials. Nevertheless, hydrogen atoms could dissolve in metals, leading to hydrogen embrittlement. In contrast, polymer materials remain unaffected by this phenomenon, making them promising candidates for high-pressure hydrogen storage. Operating in harsh environmental conditions, such as high pressure and substantial temperature fluctuations, polymer materials in high-pressure hydrogen applications warrant comprehensive investigation. This study employs molecular dynamics simulation to investigate the glass transition temperature and mechanical property variations of polymers in high-pressure hydrogen environments. The investigation commenced by examining the glass transition temperature of polymers under varying hydrogen content and pressure conditions. Subsequently, an analysis was conducted on the tensile mechanical properties of polymers, including yield strength and elastic modulus, along with the variations in their microstructure, encompassing chain orientation, chain entanglement, and free volume, under different hydrogen content, temperature, and pressure conditions. Lastly, the study explored the influence patterns of tensile stress on the diffusion coefficient of polymers. The study provides an in-depth analysis of the microstructure of polymers and the influence of environmental factors, contributing to an enhanced understanding of polymer behaviours under high-pressure hydrogen conditions.

Bio:

Dr Chao Wu is a Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) and UKRI Future Leaders Fellow at Imperial College London. Dr Wu is a member of the Department Panel, Department Research Committee, and Open Research Champion. Dr Wu is the Admission Officer of MSc Advanced Materials for Sustainable Infrastructure, and an academic staff in the Imperial Centre for Infrastructure Materials. Dr Wu is also a steering committee member of The Composites Centre at Imperial. Dr Wu is dedicated to transformative research in composite materials and technologies, aiming to enable the new generation of energy infrastructure to achieve Net Zero. Conventional infrastructure for fossil fuel falls short of meeting the sustainable demands of future generations. It is imperative to develop new generation of infrastructure to embrace renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, tidal, geothermal, nuclear, and hydrogen. Materials with exceptional performance metrics are the key for such a green transition. My Lab of Composites for Energy Infrastructure (FRP4EI) at Imperial aims at becoming a world leading research centre, driving forward innovative solutions for the next generation energy infrastructure through interdisciplinary research on material science, chemistry, mechanics, AI & modelling. Dr Wu received bachelor and master degrees in Civil Engineering from Tongji University and PhD in Civil Engineering from Monash University. Dr Wu have supervised over 17 PhDs (9 completion) and 27 MSc research projects (18 completion). I have published around 150 journal and conference papers with a H-index of 31.

Abstract:

Dr Shangfeng Du

This talk will review the latest challenges remained and the requirements for Low Temperature Fuel Cells, exploring the reasons for the cut down research and development investment in the past decade. We will introduce our design of three-dimensional ordered electrodes based on Pt nanowire arrays for low temperature fuel cells, how the electrochemical engineering research is conducted to bridge the gap between the highly active electrocatalysts and poor power performance devices. Discuss is to focus on the lessons learnt during the thin film electrode fabrication, from nanostructure growing for tuning the electrode structure, the surface modification using functional Pd nanoseeds and plasma treatment, and alloying to boost the electrode activity and durability.

Bio:

Shangfeng Du is Associate Professor, leading electrochemical engineering research for low temperature fuel cells and electrolysers in the Centre for Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Research at the University of Birmingham, UK. He graduated from Tsinghua University in Materials Science and Engineering, and obtained his PhD in Chemical Engineering from the Chinese Academy of Sciences. After working as a research associate at the Max Planck Institute for Metals Research, Germany, he joined the University of Birmingham as a Marie Curie Research Fellow. His research interests lie in electrochemical engineering research for energy application, with a focus on the development and evaluation of electrodes, composite membranes, MEAs and short stacks, as well as their application and degradation research. He has been leading a few EU, UK and industrial projects, (co-)authored several books and more than 70 research papers. He serves as President of the Chinese Society of Chemical Science and Technology in the UK (CSCST-UK).