On April 9, Phil Taylor, President of the University of Bath (UK), visited Tsinghua University. Tsinghua University Executive Vice President Zeng Rong presented the letter of appointment for Distinguished Visiting Professor to Phil Taylor. On the same day, Phil Taylor visited the Department of Electrical Engineering and also delivered the 268th lecture of the Tsinghua Overseas Master Lecture Series, presenting a keynote speech titled “System Flexibility and Multi-Energy Approaches for Low Carbon and Resilient Energy Systems.”

Tsinghua University Executive Vice President Zeng Rong presented the letter of appointment for Distinguished Visiting Professor to Phil Taylor

Zeng Rong congratulated Phil Taylor on his appointment as Distinguished Visiting Professor of Tsinghua University. He noted that Tsinghua University and the University of Bath have a strong foundation of cooperation in many disciplines, particularly in electrical engineering and energy systems. Phil Taylor is a scientist of outstanding international influence in the field of energy systems and has made important contributions to promoting exchanges and cooperation between the two universities. He expressed his expectation that Phil Taylor will further advance deeper and more diversified cooperation between the two sides in a broader range of fields in the future, thereby facilitating dialogue and mutual understanding between the two countries.

Phil Taylor stated that he is deeply honored to be appointed as Distinguished Visiting Professor of Tsinghua University. He will further expand academic exchanges and collaboration with Tsinghua faculty and students, promote disciplinary development and academic advancement in areas such as energy transition and climate change, and achieve new breakthroughs in frontier scientific research collaboration and international talent training.

After the meeting, Taylor visited the Tsinghua University Master Lecture Series. Kang Chongqing, Dean of the Department of Electrical Engineering, Director of the Energy Internet Research Institute, and Director of the Sichuan Energy Internet Research Institute, delivered the opening remarks. The event was chaired by Vice Director Sun Kai of the Department of Electrical Engineering. Attending the event were Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Honorary President of China Electric Power Research Institute Zhou Xiaoxin; Chair of the Energy Efficiency Working Group of the World Federation of Engineering Organizations and former Secretary-General of the China Electrical Engineering Society Li Ruomei; Professor Li Furong from the University of Bath; Assistant Vice President for Global Engagement of the University of Bath Pete Nuttall; Director of International Relations of the University of Bath Dörte Stevenson; Professors He Jinliang and Dong Xinzhou from the Department of Electrical Engineering; as well as more than one hundred experts, scholars, and student representatives from China and the UK.

In his speech, Kang Chongqing stated that against the backdrop of the accelerating global transition toward low-carbon and digital energy systems, strengthening international academic cooperation is of great significance for promoting disciplinary innovation and high-level talent cultivation. He pointed out that Professor Taylor has long been a leader in smart grids, energy storage technologies, and low-carbon power systems, and has played an important role in UK national energy innovation projects and energy policy development. He expressed hope that this visit would further deepen cooperation between the two sides in the fields of new-type power systems and energy transition.

Kang Chongqing delivering remarks

Taylor delivered a keynote lecture titled “System Flexibility and Multi-Energy Approaches for Low Carbon and Resilient Energy Systems,” systematically introducing the UK’s energy transition practices and the latest research progress. He noted that as the share of renewable energy generation continues to increase, achieving deep decarbonization still faces challenges such as insufficient system flexibility and increased operational complexity. Multi-energy coordination and enhanced system resilience will become key pathways. The report focused on cutting-edge topics including real-time thermal capacity assessment technologies, multi-scenario applications of energy storage, and integrated electricity–gas–hydrogen energy systems. He also shared new methods such as grid risk prediction based on meteorological data, providing new insights for the safe and stable operation of high-penetration renewable power systems. Taylor emphasized that under the context of climate change and energy transition, uncertainty in future energy systems will continue to increase, and strengthening international cooperation is essential for jointly addressing global challenges.

Taylor delivering the lecture at the Overseas Master Lecture Series

During the interactive session, attending faculty and students engaged in in-depth discussions on hot topics such as distributed energy flexibility market mechanisms and coordinated operation of data center energy systems. Taylor responded to questions one by one and introduced the latest developments in the UK’s distribution system operation model reform. He also discussed practical pathways for improving both energy efficiency and economic value of data centers through waste heat utilization, energy storage participation in electricity markets, and computing power scheduling optimization.

Li Ruomei spoke

Li Furong spoke

Zhong Haiwang spoke

On-site Q&A session

Zhou Xiaoxin stated in his concluding remarks that the report presented insightful academic perspectives on grid flexibility enhancement and energy system resilience, offering important reference value for the development of China’s new-type power system, and expressed hope for further long-term cooperation between Tsinghua University and the University of Bath.

Zhou Xiaoxin delivered concluding remarks

At the end of the event, Kang Chongqing presented Taylor with a commemorative plaque of the Tsinghua Overseas Master Lecture Series, symbolizing the continued deepening of friendship and cooperation between the two sides. Both sides stated that, taking this visit as a new starting point, they will continue to expand cooperation in areas such as smart grids, integrated energy systems, and energy digitalization, jointly promoting global energy transition and sustainable development.

Kang Chongqing presents the commemorative plaque to Taylor

Group photo of attendees. The Overseas Master Lecture Series concluded in a warm atmosphere.

Group photo of participants

The Tsinghua University “Overseas Master Lecture Series” is a high-level, frontier, and continuous lecture series that brings together high-end international exchange resources of Tsinghua University and is open to all faculty and students. Since 2007, it has hosted 268 lectures, featuring Nobel Prize laureates, renowned scholars, foreign political leaders, presidents of famous universities, and executives of multinational corporations. It has become an important platform for broadening international perspectives and deepening global cooperation.