The 20th IET International Conference on AC/DC Transmission (ACDC 2024) was successfully held in Shanghai, China, from July 12 to 15, 2024. This conference was jointly hosted by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), Tsinghua University, the Huairou Laboratory, and China Electrical Equipment Group Co., Ltd. It brought together top experts and scholars from around the world to share and discuss the latest academic research results, engineering application progress, and industry development trends in the field of AC/DC transmission. Over four days, more than 50 invited academicians and experts delivered keynote and invited presentations. A total of 13 special sessions and 13 paper presentation sessions were organized, showcasing nearly 300 academic papers through oral reports and posters. Nearly 600 representatives attended the conference in person, with approximately 57,000 views on the online live stream.

Opening ceremony of ACDC 2024

The theme of ACDC 2024 was “Innovation and Development of AC/DC Transmission Technology,” covering topics such as ultra-high voltage AC/DC transmission, flexible DC transmission, power system modeling and simulation, and new energy grid connection technologies. The conference provided a comprehensive platform for in-depth communication through keynote speeches, invited sessions, paper presentations, poster displays, and technical visits.

Group photo of guests at the event

The conference was chaired by Tang Guangfu, Director of the Huairou Laboratory and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Co-chairs included Bob Cryan, Honorary Chair of IET and an academician of the Royal Academy of Engineering, Zhou Qun, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and General Manager of China Electrical Equipment Group Co., Ltd., Hongguang Yan, Party Secretary and Chairman of Inner Mongolia Power Group Co., Ltd., Ben Rotheram, Director for China at the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC), and Professor Yu Zhanqing from Tsinghua University. The opening ceremony was hosted by Professor He Jinliang from Tsinghua University.

Speeches by guests

The conference invited several heavyweight domestic and international guests to give keynote presentations. Shu YinBiao, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and President of the Chinese Electrotechnical Society, shared insights on “Innovative Practices and Development Prospects of Ultra-high Voltage Transmission Technology.” Academician Li Licheng, Honorary Chairman of the Expert Committee of State Grid Southern Power Grid, delivered a report titled “Development and Reflection on High Voltage Direct Current Transmission.” Dushan Boroyevich, an academician of the National Academy of Engineering and Distinguished Professor at Virginia Tech, presented on “Future Electronic Power Systems for Energy Collection, Transmission, and Distribution.” IEEE Fellow Sanjib Kumar Panda, Director of Power and Energy Research at the National University of Singapore, introduced “Singapore's Floating Application Innovation Lab and Energy Transition.” Professor He Jinliang from Tsinghua University presented on “Smart Transmission Lines and Data-Driven Fault Monitoring Methods.” Drazen Dujic, Director of the Power Electronics Laboratory at EPFL, spoke on “Solid-State Resonant Converters for Medium Voltage DC.” Hu Siquan, Deputy General Manager of XJ Electric Co., Ltd., presented on “Key Technologies and Applications for Large-scale Renewable Energy DC Transmission.” The keynote presentations were chaired by Yu Zhanqing from the ACDC 2024 organizing committee.

Keynote presentations at the conference

In addition, the conference included 13 invited special reports focused on the components, equipment, and systems of AC/DC transmission technology, covering themes such as “IGCT Devices and Applications,” “Simulation of Power Electronic Devices and Equipment,” “New Technologies for DC Switching,” “DC Transformers,” “New DC Conversion Systems and Equipment,” “Modeling, Stability Analysis, and Control of Large-scale Renewable Energy DC Transmission Systems,” “Modeling, Stability Analysis, and Control of High Voltage DC Transmission Systems,” “Surface Charge Accumulation Induced by Metal Particles in High Voltage DC Gas Insulated Equipment,” “Computing, Protection, Detection, and Design of Advanced AC/DC Transmission System Equipment,” “New Developments in Energy Storage Technologies and Systems,” “Key Technologies for DC GIS/GIL,” and “Planning and Operation of Distribution Networks and Microgrids.” Each session focused on technical hotspots, with ample discussion among professional attendees.

The successful convening of ACDC 2024 is attributed to the careful preparations by the organizing units, including the Department of Electrical Engineering and Applied Electronics at Tsinghua University, the New Power System Research Center at Huairou Laboratory, XJ Electric Co., Ltd., Inner Mongolia Power (Group) Co., Ltd., the National Key Laboratory for Operation and Control of New Power Systems, Tsinghua University’s Institute for Energy Internet Innovation, Tsinghua Sichuan Energy Internet Research Institute, the DC Transmission and Power Electronics Committee of the Chinese Electrotechnical Society, and the High Voltage Committee of the Chinese Electrotechnical Society. Support from co-organizers such as Beijing Sifang Automation Co., Ltd., Henan Pinggao Electric Co., Ltd., Shandong Taikai DC Technology Co., Ltd., Shanghai Linrong Electronics Technology Co., Ltd., TBEA Xinjiang New Energy Co., Ltd., Xi'an Xidian Power System Co., Ltd., and Chint Electrics Co., Ltd., along with Beijing Electric Equipment Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Rongxin Huike Electric Co., Ltd., Shenzhen Bronze Sword Technology Co., Ltd., and Zhuzhou CRRC Qihong Cooling Technology Co., Ltd., has been invaluable. These outstanding enterprises in the field of AC and DC transmission showcased their latest research achievements and related products, attracting experts from both domestic and international arenas for discussions and visits.

Exhibition of new products and technologies by enterprises

During the welcome dinner on July 13, Wei Xiaoguang, Deputy Director of the New type power System Research Center at Huairou Laboratory, represented the organizing institutions to express gratitude for the support of all guests. Paulo Lopes, head of IET China, introduced IET’s business development in China. Subsequently, Professor He Jinliang from Tsinghua University and Honorary Chair Bob Cryan jointly presented awards for outstanding conference papers.

On July 15, participants visited the ±800kV Fengxian Converter Station, a project independently developed, designed, constructed, and operated in China, showcasing China’s leading position in this field and giving participants an opportunity to gain in-depth insights into China’s achievements in high voltage direct current transmission technology.

Participants visiting the ±800kV Fengxian converter station

As a long-standing prestigious international conference in the field of power systems, the IET International Conference on AC/DC Transmission (ACDC) has been successfully held in various cities such as Beijing and Chengdu since its introduction to China in 2016. As the 20th conference, ACDC 2024 attracted significant participation from numerous industry experts and professionals, providing a bridge for technical exchange and cooperation among scholars and technicians, further promoting international exchanges and cooperation in the field of AC/DC transmission technology, and making positive contributions to innovations and high-quality development in global AC/DC transmission technology.