Recently, the Department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Science and Technology announced the review results of key projects under the "Intergovernmental International Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation" Category of the National Key R&D Program. The project titled "Research on Efficient Conversion and Stable Control of New Energy Clusters for Remote Areas", led by Associate Professor Li Chushan from Zhejiang University-University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Institute (ZJUI), has been successfully approved.
This project is a joint research initiative between the Chinese and South African governments. Recommended by the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Science and Technology, it is led by Zhejiang University, with Central South University and the University of Pretoria (South Africa) participating as co-applicants.
This project responds to the needs of both China and South Africa to build highly efficient, reliable, and stable new energy power supply systems in remote areas. It addresses common technological challenges in existing systems—such as low cluster energy efficiency, poor regulation capability, and significant system instability—stemming from the lack of multi-level collaborative design in power conversion equipment. Through in-depth cooperation between Chinese and South African research teams, the two sides will jointly develop technologies for the efficient conversion and stable control of new energy clusters tailored to remote areas.
Building on research into multi-level collaborative design methods for new energy systems, the project will focus on breakthroughs in the following core technologies: a homogeneous and heterogeneous combination method for the topology of new energy generation clusters; a multi-energy integrated control strategy for conversion equipment in new energy generation clusters; and a self-regulating stability mechanism and collaborative control strategy for new energy generation clusters.
This project aims to enhance the stability and consumption capacity of new energy systems in remote areas of both China and South Africa, promote the large-scale application of new energy in such regions, and simultaneously explore a new China-led international cooperation model. It will also help elevate China’s international influence in the energy sector and facilitate the implementation of the "dual carbon" strategic goals.
Led by Associate Professor Li Chushan from ZJUI, the project team includes Professor Deng Yan and Assistant Professor Abhishek Kumar (both from the College of Electrical Engineering, Zhejiang University) as well as Professor Xu Guo from Central South University. The South African lead of the project is Professor Ramesh C. Bansal from the University of Pretoria, South Africa.
In recent years, ZJUI has worked to build a systematic research system. It has bolstered its interdisciplinary innovation strengths by integrating cross-field resources, focused on developing its young faculty, and established a robust long-term "trinity" mechanism uniting education, science and technology, and research. The approval of this National Key R&D Program project will greatly boost the Institute's research capacity and efficiency, and support the creation of socially impactful innovative achievements.
Li Chushan
Associate Professor
Dr. Li Chushan is a Tenured Associate Professor at Zhejiang University and a Visiting Professor at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (USA). He serves as an Associate Editor for SCI-indexed journals including IEEE Open Journal of Power Electronics (IEEE OJPE) and IET Power Electronics (IET PE), Secretary-General of the Academic Working Committee of the China Power Supply Society, and Deputy Director of the Youth Working Committee of the society.
His research focuses on high-voltage and large-capacity power conversion topologies and control technologies. He has led over 20 projects, including General Program and Youth Program of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, key project tasks under the Joint Fund for High-Speed Rail (including key international cooperation projects), and key R&D programs of Zhejiang Province.
