On the afternoon of April 12, the inaugural event of the “Academician and Expert Campus Tour” celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Chinese Society for Electrical Engineering (CSEE), along with the 11th Jingde Forum of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Applied Electronics (EEA), was held in the Lecture Hall of the West Main Building at Tsinghua University. The event featured a keynote address by Chen Guoping, Vice President of State Grid Corporation of China and Vice Chairman of CSEE, titled “Reflections on Several Issues in the Transition Period of Power Systems”. The event was attended by Shen Yanhong, Deputy Secretary-General of CSEE, and relevant departmental heads. The session was chaired by Kang Chongqing, Deputy Secretary-General of CSEE and Dean of EEA, Tsinghua University.

Welcome speech by Kang Chongqing

In his opening remarks, Kang Chongqing highlighted the background of the “Academician and Expert Campus Tour” in celebration of CSEE’s 90th anniversary and the establishment purpose of the Jingde Forum. He emphasized that since its inception, CSEE has united and mobilized a vast number of electrical engineering professionals, promoting the prosperity and development of energy and power science and technology. As part of the 90th-anniversary celebrations, the “Ninety Glorious Years: Experts Discussing Electricity” series aims to carry forward the spirit of scientists and inspire innovative enthusiasm. Tsinghua University was chosen as the first stop of this series, reflecting the deep historical ties and close collaboration between Tsinghua University and CSEE.

Kang Chongqing presented Chen Guoping with a commemorative certificate for the Jingde Forum

Group photo

Kang Chongqing presented Chen Guoping with a commemorative certificate, plaque, and souvenirs for the Jingde Forum.

Keynote speech by Chen Guoping

In his 120-minute keynote speech, Chen Guoping discussed “Reflections on Several Issues in the Transition Period of Power Systems”. He stressed that building a new type of power system must be based on China’s national conditions and technical principles, balancing energy power security and low-carbon transformation, ensuring reliable power supply, and stable grid operation. His report analyzed the challenges of constructing a new power system, drawing on the long-term operational experience of the State Grid Corporation, and proposed development principles and key technical strategies for the transition to the new power system. He also explored ten major issues facing the construction and development during this transition phase.

Interactive session

After the speech, Lu Chao, Deputy Dean of EEA hosted an interactive session where Chen Guoping engaged with faculty and students. The discussion covered topics such as stability issues, planning, theories of new power systems, and the application of artificial intelligence. The lively interaction fostered a deeper understanding of power science and technology among the students, enhancing their research thinking and innovative capabilities, and laying a solid foundation for the future development of the power sector.

At the lecture

The event attracted over 200 attendees, including faculty and students from Tsinghua University and other institutions such as the China Electric Power Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing Jiaotong University, and China Agricultural University. The report hall was packed, with many attendees standing throughout the presentation. This event facilitated exchange and cooperation among different disciplines and universities.

CSEE plans to invite more academicians and experts to visit universities in the energy and power field, delivering lectures to faculty and students on the development history of energy and power, the current state of energy transition, and the trends in new power systems. These activities aim to promote the spirit of scientists, further ignite innovative enthusiasm among faculty and students, and create a rich academic atmosphere for the 90th-anniversary celebrations.

About Jingde Forum

Mr. Gao Jingde was a renowned power engineering expert, an outstanding educator, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, a former president of Tsinghua University, and the founder of the State Key Laboratory of Power System and Large Power Plant Equipment Safety Control and Simulation. He was also an IEEE Fellow.

Jingde Forum aims to uphold the fine traditions of EEA, commemorate distinguished predecessors like President Gao Jingde, and pass on their rigorous academic spirit and innovative courage. The forum invites influential experts and scholars from domestic and international fields related to electrical engineering, energy, and higher education to discuss topics such as technological advancements, strategic planning, talent cultivation, and educational innovation.

About the guest speaker

Chen Guoping, PhD, is a professor-level senior engineer and Vice President of State Grid Corporation of China, as well as a member of its Party Leadership Group. He is Vice Chairman of CSEE and Chairman of the National Technical Committee for Standardization of Power Grid Operation and Control. Mr. Chen has long been engaged in the management of large power grid operation and control, leading major projects such as the development of a new generation of simulation platforms for the State Grid and key national standards for UHV AC/DC hybrid power grids. He has organized the formulation of 11 national standards, including the “Guidelines for Power System Safety and Stability”. Chen has received several awards, including the First Prize of China Electric Power Science and Technology Progress Award. In recent years, he has also overseen work in development planning, technological innovation, and power markets.