At 9 AM on the morning of September 11, the inauguration ceremony for the Flexible Compressed Air Energy Storage Joint Research Center, co-established by Tsinghua University (Department of Electrical Engineering and Applied Electronics, EEA) and Anhui USEM Technology Co., Ltd., along with the first meeting of its management committee, was grandly held at Tsinghua University. Professor Kang Chongqing, Dean of EEA, and Dr. Chen Renfeng, Chairman of Anhui USEM Technology Co., Ltd., jointly unveiled the center. Attendees included Huang Chunmei, Director of the Institutional Office of Tsinghua University Research Institute, Lu Mengyuan, Senior Supervisor of the Joint Institutions Office, Professors Mei Shengwei and Chen Laijun, Associate Professor Wei Wei, Assistant Researcher Liu Hansen, and executives from USEM Technology. The ceremony was hosted by Zhang Pinjia, Deputy Dean of EEA.

Director Huang Chunmei first expressed gratitude to USEM Technology for its trust and support towards EEA, and extended warm congratulations on this significant moment. She pointed out that new energy storage is a key support for achieving carbon neutrality goals and constructing a new power system, and that compressed air energy storage has become a focal point due to its significant advantages. Huang emphasized that Tsinghua University would leverage its multidisciplinary strengths to collaborate closely with USEM Technology, driving the development of China’s new power system and making important contributions to achieving carbon neutrality goals.

In his speech, Kang Chongqing noted that Academician Lu Qiang and Professor Mei Shengwei from Tsinghua University have been deeply involved in the field of compressed air energy storage for over a decade, achieving innovative technological results such as non-reburn compressed air energy storage, and establishing multiple demonstration power stations. He highlighted that USEM Technology has a solid industrial foundation in the market development and system integration of compressed air energy storage, and their collaboration will bring new breakthroughs to the new energy storage industry.

Professor Mei Shengwei shared his expectations for the joint research center from a “culturally progressive” perspective. He recalled the journey of researching compressed air energy storage over a decade ago under the guidance of Academician Lu Qiang, mentioning that now Associate Professor Chen Laijun and others continue this research, representing three generations of Tsinghua individuals dedicated to the field. He encouraged the center to uphold the spirit of “continuously renewing,” making constant breakthroughs in compressed air energy storage technology and reaching new heights.

Dr. Chen Renfeng stated that many Tsinghua alumni are part of USEM Technology’s management team, and the university’s rigorous, diligent, practical, and innovative academic style has profoundly influenced USEM’s corporate culture. The establishment of the joint research center marks an important milestone in the company’s development. USEM Technology will further cooperate with Tsinghua University on this platform to promote the iteration and renewal of compressed air energy storage technology and the development of new application scenarios, contributing more to the development of the new energy storage industry.

In his remarks, Associate Professor Chen Laijun, Director of the joint research center, expressed deep gratitude for the strong support from the university’s Research Institute and EEA for the compressed air energy storage team. He stated that the center would strengthen industry-academia-research collaboration, focusing on flexible compressed air energy storage, pumped storage coupled with compressed air energy storage, and thermal power coupled with compressed air energy storage, conducting cutting-edge technology exploration and engineering demonstration validation, aiming to make greater contributions to the advancement of the compressed air energy storage industry.

After the unveiling ceremony, the joint research center held its first management committee meeting, chaired by Dr. Tan Wei, Executive President of USEM Technology. Associate Professor Chen Laijun provided a detailed report on the background of the center’s establishment, its basic situation, organizational structure, and research planning.

During the meeting, the committee members reviewed and approved the center’s constitution and engaged in in-depth discussions on how to further strengthen industry-academia-research collaboration and optimize resource allocation.

In subsequent remarks, Dr. Chen Renfeng expressed gratitude for Professor Kang Chongqing’s long-standing concern and support, reflecting on his more than ten years of entrepreneurship in the new energy and storage field after graduating from Tsinghua University. He noted that USEM Technology has accumulated rich technical experience and achieved remarkable results during this period. Dr. Chen stated that the team would continue to promote the application of compressed air energy storage technology in broader fields and hopes to achieve more technological breakthroughs through the joint research center.

Finally, Professor Kang Chongqing delivered a concluding address. He praised the entrepreneurial journey and determination of the USEM Technology team, encouraging the joint research center to continue leading industry development through innovation and to achieve new breakthroughs in compressed air energy storage technology, becoming a benchmark for school-enterprise cooperative research institutions.

The Tsinghua University (EEA) - Anhui USEM Technology Co., Ltd. Flexible Compressed Air Energy Storage Joint Research Center’s initial phase lasts for five years, with a total funding of 50 million yuan. It aims to promote the continuous development of flexible compressed air energy storage technology, overcome technical challenges, and advance the transformation of scientific and technological achievements, contributing to the establishment of a clean, low-carbon, safe, and efficient energy system.