2025 International Energy Innovation Conference Concludes Successfully, Exploring New Paths for Global Energy Transition

From May 16 to 18, 2025, the 2025 International Energy Innovation Conference was grandly held in Beijing. The event was co-hosted by the Chinese Energy Society, the China International Science and Technology Promotion Association, the Beijing Energy and Environment Society, and Chengdu University of Technology. Over 200 participants, including academicians, experts, scholars, and industry representatives from various countries and regions, gathered to engage in in-depth discussions on energy innovation and development, injecting new momentum into global energy transition and sustainable development.

The opening ceremony was presided over by Zhang Xiulong, Secretary-General of the Chinese Energy Society. In his address, Zhang Zhijun, Deputy Secretary-General of the China International Science and Technology Promotion Association, emphasized the pivotal role of technological innovation in energy transition. He stated that the association will actively serve as a bridge to integrate resources and support the deep integration of industry, academia, and research to foster new developments in energy.

Chen Qingquan, President of the International Energy and Environment Society and an academician of the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering Sciences, analyzed the profound changes in the global energy landscape from an international perspective. He highlighted the close connection between energy and environmental issues, asserting that only through innovation-driven efforts and enhanced international cooperation can we achieve green and sustainable energy development and collectively address the challenges of global climate change.

Han Buxing, President of the Beijing Energy and Environment Society, discussed the opportunities and challenges facing China in its energy transition process. He called for collaboration among industry, academia, and research sectors, advocating for strengthened fundamental research and technological breakthroughs to promote a green and low-carbon transition in the energy sector, contributing to the achievement of the “dual carbon” goals.

The thematic report session was chaired by Chen Lin, a researcher and director at the Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Igor Pioro, an academician from Ontario Tech University in Canada, delivered a presentation titled Current Status of Electricity Generation in the World, providing a comprehensive overview of the global power production landscape. He pointed out that while the share of renewable energy in power generation continues to rise against the backdrop of energy transition, traditional thermal power still holds significant importance. The report offered crucial insights for various countries to optimize their energy strategies based on detailed data comparisons and case analyses.

Han Buxing focused on Green Chemistry and Carbon Neutrality, emphasizing that green chemistry is a core technological support for achieving carbon neutrality. He detailed the innovative achievements and application prospects of green chemistry in developing clean energy, reducing pollutant emissions, and enhancing resource utilization efficiency. He proposed that green chemistry technologies can significantly lower carbon emissions at the source during energy production and consumption processes, driving the energy industry towards a green, low-carbon, and sustainable direction.

Wu Yin, former Deputy Director of the National Energy Administration, presented a report titled Prospects for Green Innovative Development of Coal. He discussed the urgent need for the coal industry’s green transformation in the context of global energy structural adjustments. Wu elaborated on key technologies and development paths for clean and efficient coal utilization, including coal washing, ultra-low emissions from coal-fired power, coal-based multi-production, and carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS). He asserted that through technological innovation and industrial upgrading, the coal sector could achieve synergistic effects in pollution reduction and carbon emission cuts, ensuring energy security while better adapting to the requirements of green development.

Zhang Xiaohui, Chief Economist of the China International Cooperation Association of SMEs, addressed the role of SMEs in the energy transition. He acknowledged that while SMEs are vital for economic development, they often face challenges such as weak technologies and funding shortages during the green transition. He shared policy recommendations and practical cases to support SMEs in seizing opportunities for green transformation, emphasizing the importance of government guidance, industry collaboration, and technological assistance.

Shigenao Maruyama from Tohoku University in Japan delivered a report titled CO2 Energy Systems to Reduce Global Warming, exploring the potential of CO2 energy systems in combating global warming. He proposed reusing carbon dioxide as a resource and developing new types of CO2 energy systems, achieving both carbon reduction and energy production goals. Maruyama showcased his team’s research results in CO2 capture, storage, and utilization technologies, offering new technical insights for global carbon reduction efforts.

Lü Jian, an academician of the French National Academy of Technologies and Dean of the College of Engineering at City University of Hong Kong, presented New Developments in Green Energy: Principles, Processes, and Application Demonstrations. He comprehensively introduced the latest research outcomes and technological breakthroughs in the fields of solar, wind, and hydrogen energy. From foundational principles to practical applications, Lü detailed advancements in innovative processes and cost reductions, particularly concerning low-cost, high-efficiency catalysts for hydrogen production and hydrogen fuel cells, and shared successful application demonstration cases that provide valuable experiences for promoting large-scale green energy utilization.

The roundtable discussion on Global Energy Transition and Innovation Trends was moderated by Yang Weimin, a professor and doctoral supervisor at Beijing University of Chemical Technology. Zhang Yunfeng, Party Secretary and Director of the Shandong Provincial Geology and Mineral Exploration Institute, discussed the immense potential of geothermal resources as a clean, low-carbon renewable energy source in energy transition. The institute has independently innovated a geothermal exploration technology system that overcomes traditional exploration limitations, utilizing high-precision electric, magnetic, seismic, drilling, and retrieval technologies combined with intelligent big data analysis techniques, which have increased the success rate of geothermal resource exploration by over 30%. This has led to successful implementations of geothermal heating, spa therapy, specialty agriculture, efficient farming, and heat-electric conversion projects in multiple regions, serving over one million households and replacing more than 1 million tons of standard coal annually, while reducing CO2 emissions by over 2.4 million tons. Looking ahead, the institute plans to deepen industry-academia-research cooperation, accelerate the establishment of comprehensive geothermal resource exploration and development standards, and promote the scaled, standardized, and intelligent development of the geothermal industry, contributing to the construction of a new energy system that complements multiple energy sources.

Yin Meizong, Chairman of Jiangsu Huamei Times Technology Co., Ltd., highlighted that magnesium-based hydrogen storage materials are a key breakthrough in addressing the intermittency of new energy sources. The company has established an industrial chain system from the production of high-performance hydrogen storage materials to the integration of hydrogen storage systems, validated across various domestic and international application scenarios. Currently, they have partnered with multiple new energy enterprises to enhance energy absorption and storage capabilities. Chairman Yin also noted that the energy revolution is not merely a technical solo but a reorganization of elements; the hydrogen industry is not a zero-sum game, but a symbiotic ecosystem. Huamei Times is committed to forging a development blueprint for the hydrogen energy industry, anchored by materials.

Wang Weiting, Chairman of Zhongtian Tongyuan Solar Technology Co., Ltd., expressed that their development philosophy is that “the energy of the future is cultivated.” The company focuses on the full industrial chain and multi-energy collaborative application of biomass energy, including collection, storage, transportation, production, supply, sales, and the production of electricity, methanol, and heat. Their independently developed ultra-low energy consumption biomass pellet forming machines have achieved large-scale applications, facilitating low-carbon transitions in coal-fired power plants through co-firing biomass fuels, as well as in electricity peak regulation, green methanol production, heating, and steam generation. Furthermore, their innovative “photovoltaics + biomass” model has established zero-carbon energy systems in rural energy cooperation stations and green low-carbon industrial parks, supporting rural revitalization and energy conservation in the coal-fired power sector. Moving forward, they aim to further expand collaborative innovations in biomass energy and solar energy, providing comprehensive energy solutions to advance the energy revolution and achieve “dual carbon” goals.

Wang Yongliang, former Deputy General Manager of Beijing Energy Group Co., Ltd., discussed the current global carbon dioxide emissions exceeding 36 billion tons annually, with a significant proportion attributed to China. He likened this situation to dining at a restaurant where the energy used in food preparation should not solely be blamed on the chef. He emphasized that, as the “world’s factory,” China undertakes substantial production work for global markets, with many products ultimately sold overseas. Therefore, based on the principle of carbon emission responsibility allocation, the carbon emissions from products produced in China but serving foreign consumption should not be entirely borne by China. In discussing the global distribution of carbon reduction responsibilities, it is essential to fully consider the value chain relationships between production and consumption, establishing a more equitable and reasonable mechanism for carbon emission accounting to promote a scientifically, fairly, and rationally developed global carbon governance system.

Rong Guoguang, General Manager and Legal Representative of Beijing Xingyan Technology Co., Ltd., pointed out that as a core technological engine supporting the transition of the energy structure, the development of new materials is leading a new paradigm of industrial transformation. The company has successfully broken through application bottlenecks in multiple scenarios, including power batteries, propellants, and hydrogen storage, relying on its proprietary silicon-based nanomaterial system and precise control of energy density characteristics and release methods. Currently, this technology has provided innovative solutions for industry clients, helping them achieve energy efficiency improvements and optimize operational cost structures.

Academicians She Yuanbin from the European Academy of Humanities and Natural Sciences and Zhang Guoshu, Vice President of the Chinese Energy Society and Professor at Donghua University, jointly hosted thematic reports. Chen Lin from the Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, shared cutting-edge research results in Energy Power Cycles Based on Supercritical Carbon Dioxide. Hiroshi Yamaguchi, an academician from Doshisha University in Japan, explored the application prospects of dry ice in refrigeration and power systems. Yang Weimin, a professor at Beijing University of Chemical Technology, discussed advancements in the green manufacturing of polymer materials and clean energy sciences; Peng Qiang, a professor at Chengdu University of Technology, presented key materials and efficient devices for organic solar cells; Jin Hui, a professor at Xi’an Jiaotong University, elaborated on solid carbon fixation and environmental remediation technologies based on supercritical carbon dioxide; and Zhang Yunfeng shared innovations in geothermal exploration technology. Takaaki Tomai from Tohoku University in Japan discussed the application of electrochemistry in subcritical fluids for carbon-neutral chemical industries, while Jiang Guancheng, a professor at China University of Petroleum (Beijing) and a dual-academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, presented a theoretical and technical system proposal for intelligent drilling fluid.

This conference established an international, high-standard academic and industrial exchange platform, clarifying directions for technological innovation, industrial upgrading, and sustainable development in the global energy sector. In the future, the co-hosts will deepen cooperation and continue to promote exchanges in the energy field, fully supporting the achievement of global energy transition goals.