On August 31, during the 2nd International Summer School on “Operation and Control of Electrified Power Systems,” Professor Michael Pollitt, Professor of Business Economics at the University of Cambridge and Deputy Director of the Energy Policy Research Group (EPRG), was appointed as a Distinguished Visiting Professor at Tsinghua University. The appointment ceremony was held in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Applied Electronics (EEA), attended by EEA Dean Kang Chongqing, faculty representatives, and both Chinese and international students participating in the summer school.

At the ceremony, EEA Deputy Dean Sun Kai introduced Professor Pollitt’s academic background and his significant contributions in the fields of energy economics and electricity markets. EEA Dean Kang Chongqing presented Professor Pollitt with the Tsinghua University Distinguished Visiting Professor Certificate and expressed hope for further strengthening future exchanges and collaboration between both sides.

Kang Chongqing presents the appointment certificate to Michael Pollitt

Following the appointment ceremony, as an invited expert lecturer for this summer school, Professor Pollitt delivered a special lecture titled “Recent Developments in the Electricity Market in Europe”. He systematically reviewed recent trends and developments in the European electricity market and presented the latest practices in promoting deep decarbonization and energy security in Europe. The lecture was clear, comprehensive, and visionary, sparking enthusiastic discussion and active interaction among the attending faculty and students.

Michael Pollitt teaching and interacting with summer school participants

About Michael Pollitt

Professor Michael Pollitt received his Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Oxford in 1994. He currently serves as Professor of Business Economics at the Judge Business School, University of Cambridge, Deputy Director of the Energy Policy Research Group (EPRG) at Cambridge, and Co-Academic Director of the Centre on Regulation in Europe (CERRE). From 2020 to 2023, he was elected Vice President of Publications for the International Association for Energy Economics (IAEE) and has served as an external economic advisor to the UK energy regulator, Ofgem.

Professor Pollitt has also held a Visiting Associate Professorship at MIT’s Department of Economics and has served as co-editor or editorial board member for journals including Economics of Energy & Environmental Policy. His research focuses on energy economics, electricity market design, renewable energy policy, and carbon emissions systems, with significant impact in both academia and policymaking. He has published hundreds of works with over 10,000 citations on Google Scholar and has received awards such as the Judge Business School Research Impact Award at Cambridge University.

Regarding China’s electricity reform and market development, Professor Pollitt has published a series of research findings, including Reforming the Chinese Electricity Supply Sector: Lessons from Global Experience, summarizing international experiences and proposing reform recommendations suitable for China’s context. He has conducted systematic research on Guangdong’s electricity market pilot evaluation and reform performance measurement and has continuously promoted dialogue and exchange with Chinese universities and institutions through academic activities and policy workshops. Professor Pollitt has played a significant role in advancing China’s electricity market development and fostering educational cooperation between Cambridge University and Chinese institutions.