On July 2-3, 2020, the 16th IET International Conference on AC/DC Transmission (ACDC 2020) was successfully held. Affected by the novel coronavirus, the ACDC conference was held online for the first time and live broadcast on three major live streaming platforms, Tencent Conference, Weibo (@ Graduate Association of Tsinghua University) and bilibili (@ Tsinghua DC).

The conference was jointly hosted by IET and Tsinghua University, co-hosted by EEA of Tsinghua University, Energy Internet Innovation Research Institute of Tsinghua University, and Sichuan Energy Internet Research Institute of Tsinghua University, and supported by China National Key Laboratory of Safety Control and Simulation of Power Systems and Large Power Generation Equipment, China National Key Laboratory of Power Grid Environmental Protection, Science and Technology Research Institute of China Three Gorges Corporation, Beijing Power Equipment Group and Xi'an XD Power System Co., Ltd. As a well-known international conference on AC/DC power transmission, more than 5,000 experts, scholars, teachers and students and practitioners from all over the world attended the conference and extensively exchanged their ideas on current hot technologies and prospects in the field of AC/DC transmission.

The opening ceremony and the keynote forum of the conference were solemnly held on the morning of July 2. Professor Zeng Rong from Tsinghua University and Mr. Ian Mercer, Director of International Operations of IET delivered speeches respectively. The meeting was chaired by Chairman of ACDC2020 Technical Committee and Associate Professor Yu Zhanqing from Tsinghua University. Academician Tang Guangfu from Global Energy Internet Research Institute Co., Ltd., Professor Zeng Rong from Tsinghua University, Professor Alex Q. Huang from University of Texas at Austin, Professor Rik W. De Doncker from RWTH Aachen University, Dr. Makan Chen from ABB Power Grids Switzerland Ltd. - Semiconductors, Professor He Jinliang, Chairman of the ACDC2020 Organizing Committee, et al. attended the opening ceremony together with guests from co-hosting and supporting units. In addition, more than 400 authors of influencing theses participated in the opening ceremony online through Tencent Conference, and more than 5,000 professional viewers watched it online through live streaming platforms such as Tencent Conference, Weibo and bilibili.

The keynote forum mainly focuses on hotspots of academic research and frontiers of technology application in the field of AC/DC transmission. Academician Tang Guangfu from Global Energy Internet Research Institute introduced "The Application of HV DC Large-power Conversion Technology in China"; Zeng Rong, Chairman of ACDC2020 Conference and shared "How to Integrate System Analysis - Equipment Development - Device Development"; Professor Alex Q. Huang from the University of Texas at Austin discussed "Medium Voltage SiC Power Device Technology for AC/DC Power Grids"; Professor Rik W. De Doncker from RWTH Aachen University explained "DC Technology Based on Power Electronics Provides a Flexible Grid for Sustainable Energy Supply"; and Dr. Makan Chen from ABB Power Grids Switzerland Ltd. - Semiconductors introduced the research progress of power semiconductors for transmission and distribution applications.

With the great support from universities, research institutes, electric power enterprises and related societies and associations at home and abroad, ACDC2020 has received nearly 700 Chinese and foreign articles. After three rounds of review by a thesis review committee composed of global experts, 483 were selected for online and poster publicizing. On the afternoon of July 2 and in the whole day of July 3, 24 sub-forums focusing on 11 topics, such as transmission materials and equipment, power system control and protection, AC transmission and distribution systems, and cutting-edge technology, were arranged throughout the conference. Experts and scholars from universities at home and abroad served as the chairmen of the sub-forums, delivered academic reports on the topics and organized the participating authors to give oral lectures on their contributions. The 24 sub-forums were accurate and warm in discussion, 150 online special reports were completed and thousands of people participated.

The novel coronavirus since the beginning of 2020 has brought great challenges and impacts to global academic exchanges. As one of the first batch of online international academic conferences approved by Chinese Ministry of Education since the pandemic, ACDC2020 explored a new mode for international academic exchanges during the pandemic and new ideas for international academic conferences. New theories, new methods and new technologies are collected through "on-line discussion on power", which will effectively support the development of AC/DC transmission technology and contribute to the realization of clean and efficient energy transmission.