From April 1 to 2, a delegation from the Department of Electrical Engineering and Applied Electronics (EEA) visited China Southern Power Grid Company for an exchange. The delegation included Department Dean Kang Chongqing, Deputy Party Secretary Yu Zhanqing, Executive Vice President of the Tsinghua Sichuan Energy Internet Research Institute (Sichuan Institute) Lu Zongxiang, Vice President of the Tsinghua University Energy Internet Innovation Institute (Beijing Institute) Gao Feng, Director of the Department Party Office Li Qi, Assistant Director of the State Key Laboratory of New Type Power System Operation and Control (State Key Lab) Lin Jin, and over ten professors and staff from the department and the two institutes.

On the morning of April 1, the delegation first visited the China Southern Power Grid Science and Technology Exchange Center. The center serves as a comprehensive innovation hub integrating technology achievement exhibition, academic exchange, transformation of scientific results, and intellectual property operations, and acts as a key window for conveying China Southern Power Grid’s innovative image. Ma Nan, Deputy General Manager of the Science and Technology Innovation Department, and others introduced the exhibits, which included the development of UHVDC technologies such as the ±800 kV flexible DC wall bushing, the Guiyang–Guangzhou second DC transmission project, the Nanao ±160 kV multi-terminal flexible DC transmission project, and the “Kunliulong” ±800 kV UHV multi-terminal flexible DC transmission project. They also showcased technological innovations in various areas including generation-grid-load-storage-carbon-data, such as “Nankun,” “Dianhong,” and “Jimu.”

After the visit, the delegation held an exchange meeting with the Science and Technology Innovation Department of China Southern Power Grid. General Manager Wang Wei, Deputy General Manager Ma Nan, and others attended. EEA introduced the organizational structure and respective strengths of the “One Department, Two Institutes, One Lab, and One Alliance.” The Southern Grid Innovation Department shared updates on their current innovation work, and attending professors introduced their research areas and collaboration intentions.

Later, the delegation visited the company’s headquarters and met with Chief Engineer Wang Jifeng and other leaders and experts.

On the afternoon of April 1, the delegation visited the Southern Power Grid Research Institute. Attendees included Chairman Zheng Waisheng, Vice Presidents Li Yan and Guo Qi, and heads and technical experts from departments such as the Innovation Department, Systems Institute, DC Institute, Simulation Institute, High Voltage Institute, Distribution Institute, Metering Institute, Technical Support Center, and Information Security Center. The institute presented updates on recent innovation efforts, and EEA, Sichuan Institute, Beijing Institute, and Power Key Lab each introduced their technical achievements. Both sides engaged in enthusiastic discussions focusing on areas such as new power system planning, operation and control technologies, supporting technologies for new power systems, flexible DC and power electronics, digital grid technology, and power market–carbon coupling technologies.

On the morning of April 2, the delegation visited the Digital Grid Research Institute of China Southern Power Grid. Attendees included General Manager Liu Yuquan, Deputy General Manager Guo Xiaobin, and heads of departments such as Strategy and Technology, Sensing Company, Big Data Company, R&D Center, AI Company, and Digital Grid Technology Company. The two sides discussed potential collaboration in areas such as computing-electricity-carbon synergy, digital infrastructure for the power sector, AI-driven energy and power think tanks, advanced sensing and intelligent electrical materials, and flexible multi-degree-of-freedom electric drive technologies for grid inspection robots.

On the afternoon of April 2, the delegation visited the Southern Power Grid Energy Development Research Institute. Attendees included Party Secretary and Chairman Zhang Mianrong, Deputy General Manager Yang Xiongpeng, and others. The two sides explored cooperation intentions in areas such as the 15th Five-Year energy and power planning for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, policy consulting and special reports based on hard-tech research results, international cooperation involving Lancang–Mekong, ASEAN, and the Belt and Road Initiative, brand and international influence development, market mechanisms for distributed PV trading, and future urban energy system technology roadmaps.

The two-day exchange visit proved fruitful for every professor in the delegation, who expressed hopes for extensive and in-depth cooperation with China Southern Power Grid in technological breakthroughs, result transformation, and international cooperation. Relevant departments of China Southern Power Grid also indicated plans to continue industry-university-research collaboration with EEA and the two institutes of Tsinghua University, striving for more breakthroughs and innovations in foundational, forward-looking, and disruptive technologies.