Recently, The project Research on Efficient Conversion and Stable Control of New Energy Clusters for Remote Areas is selected as key project under the National Key Research and Development Program’s Intergovernmental International Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation initiative which is led by Associate Professor Li Chushan in ZJUI.

This project responds to the pressing demand for high-efficiency, highly reliable, and robust new energy power supply systems in remote regions of China and South Africa. Existing systems suffer from critical limitations such as low cluster efficiency, inadequate regulation capability, and instability, largely attributable to the absence of multi-level coordinated design in power conversion equipment. Through close collaboration between Chinese and South African teams, this initiative will develop advanced technologies for efficient power conversion and stable control in remote-area new energy clusters. The research centers on multi-level coordinated design methodologies, with a focus on three key technological breakthroughs: heterogeneous topology construction methods for new energy generation clusters, multi-energy integrated control strategies for power conversion equipment, and autonomous stabilization mechanisms combined with coordinated control strategies for new energy clusters.

The project is aiming to enhance the stability and energy absorption capacity of renewable energy systems in remote areas of both China and South Africa. This will facilitate large-scale deployment of renewable energy solutions in underserved regions. Simultaneously, the project will pioneer a new China-led model for international cooperation. These efforts will strengthen China's global influence in the energy sector while making substantial contributions to achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals.

The team is led by ZJUI Associate Professor Li Chushan, with members including Professor Deng Yan and Assistant Professor Abhishek Kumar from the College of Electrical Engineering at Zhejiang University, as well as Professor Xu Guo from Central South University. Professor Ramesh C. Bansal is the leader on South Africa side, who is from the University of Pretoria.

In recent years, ZJUI has focused on building a systematic research framework by integrating multidisciplinary resources to enhance its strengths in interdisciplinary innovation. It has also prioritized the development of young faculty, steadily establishing a sustainable development mechanism that integrates education, science and technology, and elite cultivation. The recent approval of this National Key Research and Development Program project will significantly elevate the institute's research capabilities and serve as a key driver for producing innovative outcomes with societal impact.

Li Chushan

Associate Professor