On the afternoon of November 17, the 48th Hainan Distinguished Scientist Lecture was held at the auditorium of the Social Sciences Complex, Hainan University. Cheng Yibing, Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering and Strategic Scientist of the Foshan Xianhu Laboratory in Guangdong, delivered a speech entitled Cutting-edge Technologies and Future Developments of New Energy. In attendance were Xu Wei, member of the Party Leadership Group and Vice President of the Hainan Association for Science and Technology; Luo Qingming, HNU President and Member of CAS; and other members of the university leadership.

On the afternoon of November 17, the 48th Distinguished Scientist Lecture is held at the auditorium of the Social Sciences Complex, Hainan University. (Photo by Zhang Mengting)

Prof. Cheng opened with humanity’s growing demand for energy, reviewing global fossil fuel consumption and the progress in renewable energy. He explained why China, amid the new international landscape, is firmly pursuing green, low-carbon development and prioritizing new energy technology and system building in its national strategy. Tracing the evolution of solar, wind, and hydrogen energy over the past five decades, he elaborated on China’s transition from a “follower” to a global “leader” in these fields.

Prof. Cheng Yibing delivers the lecture. (Photo by Zhang Mengting)

Prof. Cheng delved into the research and application of three key new energy technologies: solar photovoltaic, hydrogen energy, and ammonia-hydrogen co-firing zero-carbon technology. He also shared his own and his team’s research outcomes in areas such as perovskite solar cells and ammonia-hydrogen zero-carbon combustion.

He noted that clean energy is inevitable for human society to achieve sustainable development. To build a new energy system, he added, concerted efforts from the government, society, enterprises, and scientific researchers are essential.

The auditorium was filled to capacity, with faculty members and students actively engaging in discussions on industry-university collaboration and application of innovative achievements in new energy area. Prof. Cheng answered the questions from the audience with professionalism and patience.

The lecture was attended both online and offline. Among the participants were representatives from the Hainan Association for Science and Technology, local sci-tech professionals and over 700 teachers and students from multiple HNU campuses, including Haidian, Danzhou, Guanlanhu (which also oversees the Chengxi Teaching Site), and Yazhou Bay.

Translated by Ye Kechen

Proofread by Feng Jun