From December 8 to 13, Academician Huang Zhen, Dean of College of Smart Energy led a delegation to visit the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia to attend series of activities of the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference, and visited universities and enterprises.

Activities in COP28

On December 9, the "China Corner" Side Event of the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on "Joining Hands to Shape the Future of the Global Energy Transition", jointly hosted by the Energy Research Institute of the China Academy of Macroeconomic Research and the College of Smart Energy, SJTU-SPIC, and the presentation of "China's Energy Transition Outlook 2023" was successfully held in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Academician Huang Zhen first warmly congratulated the Energy Research Institute on the release of "China's Energy Transition Outlook 2023" in his speech, saying that China's energy transition is facing huge challenges, and it is not a one-stop solution, but rather, it is necessary to make progress in a sequential manner, and that the path of energy transition needs to be scientifically designed based on the policy and regulations, technology and market, and that it is necessary to speed up the construction of the "dual-carbon" legal system, vigorously push forward the innovation of low-carbon, zero-carbon and negative-carbon science and technology and energy revolution, and give full play to the market's role of allocating resources.

Pro. Gu Jun, vice dean of College of Smart Energy shared her views on energy transition on the round-table session.

Academician Huang Zhen attended the Round-table Discussion on Low Carbon Transition of Global Industrial Enterprises organized by the Energy Foundation. He made a keynote speech on "Energy Green Transition and Industrial Decarbonization Path".

Academician Huang Zhen also attended and delivered a keynote speech at the China Corner Side Event on "Clean Energy for Green Transformation" co-hosted by the State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC), China Electricity Federation (CEF), and China Energy Construction Group (CECG).

On the following day, Academician Huang Zhen visited the 700MW solar thermal and 250MW photovoltaic power generation project in Dubai constructed by Shanghai Electric Group. The project allows 320,000 local families to use clean electricity, and reduces 1.6 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.

The visit to Saudi Arabia

Academician Huang Zhen and his delegation were invited to visit King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), and had discussions with Pro. Pierre Magistretti, Vice President, Pro. Chak Chan, Dean of the College of Physical Sciences and Engineering, Pro.William Roberts, Director of the Center for Cleaner Combustion, and Pro. Hong G. Im, Foreign Member of the Korean Academy of Engineering and Professor of the College of Mechanical Engineering. During the visit, the delegation visited the laboratory of Clean Combustion Center.

At Saudi Arabian National Petroleum Company (Aramco), Academician Huang Zhen and his delegation met and exchanged views with Dr. Faisal Al-Otaibi, Director of R&D Center, Dr. Amer Ahmad Amer, Head of Transportation Technology, Dr. Hassan Babiker, Head of Transportation Technology Strategic Research, Dr. Aqil Jamal, Head of Carbon Management, and Dr. Rashed Aleisa, Head of Fuel and Chemical Products. Dr. Aqil Jamal, Head of Carbon Management, Dr. Rashed Aleisa, Head of Fuel and Chemical Products, etc. The two sides met and exchanged views on further deepening the exchanges and cooperation. During the visit, Academician Huang Zhen was invited to give a report on "China's Energy Green Transition", elaborating on the progress and prospects of China's response to climate change and energy green transition, and held in-depth discussions with the participating experts.

The attendance of COP28 series of activities and the visit to Saudi Arabia are of great significance in promoting academic research on climate change and energy transition, helping the college to build an international cooperation and exchange platform, and enhancing the college's international academic influence.