Tianfu Yongxing Laboratory Successfully Holds a Demonstration Conference on Research Departments and Research Centers

On December 13-31, Tianfu Yongxing Laboratory (hereinafter referred to as “the Laboratory”) held a demonstration conference on the construction schemes of research departments and research centers, in an effort to accelerate its research center construction. The Laboratory also aims at fully implementing the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, actively and steadily promoting carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, serving the construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle and the national strategy of the “3060” carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals. During the demonstration conference, nearly 100 domestic academicians, experts, scholars, and corporate representatives in the field of carbon neutrality were invited to form expert panels. The expert panels examined the construction of the research departments and research centers through reviewing materials, listening to reports, and discussions.

Nine research centers (including the Research Center for Geothermal Resource Exploration, Development, and Comprehensive Utilization, the Research Center for Biomass Zero-carbon Fuels, the Research Center for Zero-carbon Energy Systems, the Research Center for New Power Systems, the Research Center for Carbon Sequestration and Ecological Restoration, the Research Center for Biomass Materials, the Research Center for Pollution and Carbon Reduction Evaluation, the Research Center for New Principles and Technology of Carbon Dioxide Capture, and the Research Center for Green Development and Utilization of Natural Gas) were put under demonstration.

01. Research Center for Geothermal Resource Exploration, Development, and Comprehensive Utilization

On December 13, the Laboratory organized experts to demonstrate the construction scheme of the Research Department of Carbon Sink and Geological Carbon Sequestration and the Research Center for Geothermal Energy Exploration, Development, and Comprehensive Utilization through an ‘offline + online’ method. Twelve experts, including academicians Duoji, Li Gensheng, Yang Chunhe, and Sun Jinsheng of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and Yu Guirui, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, formed an expert panel.

Focusing on knotty problems in the exploration, efficient development, and comprehensive utilization of geothermal resources, the Research Center for Geothermal Resource Exploration, Development, and Comprehensive Utilization is working on major breakthroughs in the technologies of medium and low temperature geothermal power generation and comprehensive utilization in numerous abandoned wells in Sichuan Basin, and the technology of the high-efficiency separation and extraction of lithium and other associated mineral resources in geothermal water. The research center has set up the following four research directions: geothermal resource exploration, evaluation, and target area selection, the key technology of geothermal resource development, the technology of the comprehensive utilization of medium and low temperature geothermal resources, and the technology of the efficient extraction of associated resources in the hot water layer. Through bringing together a variety of forces from multiple disciplines, institutions, platforms, and enterprises, it has constructed a complete innovation chain of ‘basic research–technological research–industrial transformation’.

The expert panel believes that it is necessary for the Laboratory to establish a Research Center for Geothermal Resource Exploration, Development, and Comprehensive Utilization because it will effectively promote the development of China’s geothermal resource exploration, development, and utilization industry, further helping our country achieve the “carbon peaking and carbon neutrality” goals.

02. Research Center for Biomass Zero-carbon Fuels

On December 14, the Laboratory organized experts to demonstrate the construction scheme of the Research Department of Resource Carbon Neutrality and the Research Center for Biomass Zero-carbon Fuels through an “offline + online” method. Ten experts, including Chen Yong, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; Liu Qingyou, President of Chengdu University of Technology; and Chen Daiwen, a professor of Sichuan Agricultural University, formed an expert panel.

The center adheres to the national “carbon peaking and carbon neutrality” strategy, is based on the original characteristics of biomass resources in Sichuan Province, and is committed to making breakthroughs in the key engineering technical issues of transforming low energy density biomass into high energy density biomass fuels. The research center is working on major breakthroughs in the theory and technology of zero-carbon fuels in the fields of making biomass into gasoline, diesel, jet fuels, hydrogen, and fuel ethanol. The research center has set up the four research directions of key technologies and equipment of the production of biomass into jet fuels, the gasification of biomass into hydrogen, the production of biomass into ethanol, and the replacement of steel by biochar, which will assist in forming an innovation system of theory, technology, process and equipment of the whole chain of biomass zero-carbon fuels.

According to the expert panel, the research center satisfies China’s major demands, is based on the original characteristics of biomass resources in Sichuan Province, and will significantly facilitate China’s raw material system transformation from the one based on fossil resources to that based on renewable resources.

03. Research Center for Zero-carbon Energy Systems

On December 16, the Laboratory organized experts to demonstrate the construction scheme of the Research Department of Clean and Low-carbon Energy and the Research Center for Zero-carbon Energy Systems through an “offline + online” method. Twelve experts, including academicians He Kebin, Qian Yong, Wang Hao, and Rao Hong of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; Zou Caineng, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; and Zhang Jiujun, an academician of the Academy of Science of the Royal Society of Canada, formed an expert panel.

To achieve the “carbon peaking and carbon neutrality” goals, a major expenditure of effort should be devoted to energy. The research center targets the international and domestic advanced level, and focuses on the three strategic directions of solid oxide fuel cells, green hydrogen production and storage, and zero-carbon utilization of carbon-based energy. Through making major breakthroughs in key technologies such as SOFC power generation, SOEC hydrogen production with electrolysis, AEM hydrogen production of water with electrolysis, hydrogen production of renewable energy coupled with wastewater, and hydrogen storage with liquid organic hydrogen carrier, the research center is able to realize independent and controllable core technologies for China, and provide technical support of zero-carbon energy for the green development of China and Sichuan.

In the expert panel’s eyes, the Research Center for Zero-carbon Energy Systems has the ability to undertake major domestic projects in the field of zero-carbon energy systems, and can make important contributions to China’s energy revolution and the development of zero-carbon energy technology.

04. Research Center for New Power Systems

On December 27, the Laboratory organized experts to demonstrate the construction scheme of the Research Center for New Power Systems through an “offline + online” method. Eleven experts, including academicians Wang Chengshan and Jiang Yi of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; Song Yonghua, an academician of the Royal Academy of Engineering; and Li Junfeng, Standing Director of the China Energy Research Society, formed an expert panel.

Established under the Research Department of Clean and Low-carbon Energy, the Research Center for New Power Systems sticks to major national strategic deployment of new power systems, targets the main field of carbon neutrality in energy and electricity, and focuses on the key technical shortcomings of new power systems, and the challenges of key equipment and industrial software. It has set up four key research tasks targeting carbon neutrality, which include new power system planning, operation and control, key equipment and digitization, and electricity-carbon coupling theory and methods, as well as a development task of the ‘meta’ platform and key scientific devices. In this way, the research center has constructed a full-chain research scheme from theory and technology to pilot tests, prototypes, and products with demands as the orientation.

In the expert panel’s view, the construction of the Research Center for New Power Systems is of great importance and urgency, and suggested to accelerate its construction.

05. Research Center for Carbon Sequestration and Ecological Restoration

On December 28, the Laboratory organized experts to demonstrate the construction scheme of the Research Center for Carbon Sequestration and Ecological Restoration through an “offline + online” method. Twelve experts, including Xu Zuxin, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; Yu Guirui, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; Ouyang Zhiyun, a foreign academician of the National Academy of Sciences, United States; and Liu Shirong, Director  of the Chinese Academy of Forestry, formed an expert panel.

Established under the Research Department of Carbon Sink and Geological Carbon Sequestration, the Research Center for Carbon Sequestration and Ecological Restoration focuses on key problems in the field of ecological restoration of desertification, stony desertification, and major engineering disturbance areas (referred to as ‘three kinds of desertification and one disturbance’). It has set up the three main research directions of the research and development of ecological restoration materials for fragile geological environments, breakthroughs in ecological restoration technology and equipment, and the accounting system for carbon sequestration and increase in carbon sink for ecological restoration of fragile geological environments. In addition, it is making breakthroughs in the research and development of ecological restoration materials, the innovation of key technologies for ecological restoration, and the theory of carbon sequestration for ecological restoration for areas of ‘three kinds of desertification and one disturbance’, which provides theoretical and technical support for the development of China’s ecological restoration industry.

The expert panel believes that the Laboratory’s construction of the Research Center for Carbon Sequestration and Ecological Restoration will foster the progress of ecological restoration technology and industrial development of fragile geological environment in China, further helping our country achieve the “carbon peaking and carbon neutrality” goals.

06. Research Center for Biomass Materials

On December 28, the Laboratory organized experts to demonstrate the construction scheme of the Research Center for Biomass Materials under the Research Department of Resource Carbon Neutrality through an “offline + online” method. Eleven experts, including academicians Duan Ning, Qu Jinping, and Jiang Jianchun of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and Cheng Huiming, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, formed an expert panel.

The research center has set up the four research directions of key technologies and equipment for biomass collection and preliminary processing, biomass-based building structural materials, biomass-based functional materials, and biomass-based packaging materials. With biomass such as agricultural and forestry waste as basic raw materials, the research center constructs biomass-based structural materials, functional materials, and packaging materials via technical channels of splitting, recombination, and composite of functional components, so as to offer theoretical and technical support for China’s biomass materials industry. The establishment of the research center is initiated by Sichuan University and it owns a high-level research and development team consisting of experts from universities, scientific research institutes, and enterprises.

According to the expert panel, the research center’s engagement in theoretical research, technological innovation, talent development, and industrial transformation of manufacturing structural and functional materials by replacing fossil resources with biomass will effectively facilitate China to realize the carbon neutrality goal.

07. Research Center for Pollution and Carbon Reduction Evaluation

On December 29, the Laboratory organized experts to demonstrate the construction scheme of the Research Department of Pollution and Carbon Reduction Synergy and the Research Center for Pollution and Carbon Reduction Evaluation through an “offline + online” method. Eleven experts, including academicians He Kebin, Liu Wenqing, He Hong, Wang Qiao, Gao Xiang, and Wu Minghong of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, formed an expert panel.

The Research Center for Pollution and Carbon Reduction Evaluation targets the three strategic tasks of the sustainable and fundamental improvement of the ecological environment, carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, as well as economic and social development and comprehensive green transformation. Besides, it focuses on resolving the problems of integrated planning, integrated deployment, integrated proceeding, and integrated assessment of pollution and carbon reduction through technological innovation. The three research directions of research on pollution and carbon reduction simulation, research on pollution and carbon reduction policies, and research on pollution and carbon reduction assessment have been set up for original scientific research and system integration, thereby forming innovative key technologies and policies. In this way, the research center is able to provide a multi-scale evaluation engineering model and a business support system for the improvement of ecological environment quality and the realization of the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals.

In the expert panel’s eyes, the research center aims to meet the major technological and management needs of collaborative control of pollution and carbon reduction. Through the research center’s knowledge of Sichuan’s characteristics and its influence on the southwest China, it has constructed a system of basic research, technology research and development, policy standards, and simulation evaluation for pollution and carbon reduction. Being strategic, forward-looking, advanced, and practical, this construction scheme can offer strong technological and policy support for the collaborative control of pollution and carbon reduction.

08. Research Center for New Principles and Technology of Carbon Dioxide Capture

On December 29, the Laboratory organized experts to demonstrate the construction scheme of the Research Center for New Principles and Technology of Carbon Dioxide Capture through an “offline + online” method. Fifteen experts, including academicians Su Yimao, Sun Longde, Zhao Wenzhi, Li Yang, Kang Hongpu, Li Ning, Shu Yinbiao, and Huang Zhen of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and Jin Zhijun, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, formed an expert panel.

Established under the Research Department of Carbon Capture and Utilization, the Research Center for New Principles and Technology of Carbon Dioxide Capture takes carbon capture as the research object and low energy consumption, low-cost, and high-efficiency carbon capture technology as the goal. Moreover, featuring electrochemical carbon capture technology, the research center has set up three types of carbon capture technology systems and seven specific technical directions based on the cutting-edge level of international research and its own characteristics and advantages. By striving to realize the independent and original innovation of the principles and theory of carbon dioxide capture from the three levels of technical principle research, material research and development, and equipment research, the research center is committed to promoting the technological innovation of the CCUS industry in Sichuan and China.

In the expert panel’s view, since the research center takes into account China’s fossil fuel-based energy structure, and deeply explores low energy consumption, high stability, and large-scale carbon dioxide capture technology, an independent carbon capture collaborative innovation system is promising to be formed, thus creating a new model of China’s negative carbon economy.

09. Research Center for Green Development and Utilization of Natural Gas

On December 31, the Laboratory organized experts to demonstrate the construction scheme of the Research Center for Green Development and Utilization of Natural Gas under the Research Department of Clean and Low-carbon Energy through an “offline + online” method. Twelve experts, including academicians Li Gensheng, Liu He, Li Ning, and Xu Weilin of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and Zou Caineng, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, formed an expert panel.

With Sichuan Basin as the main object, the Research Center for Green Development and Utilization of Natural Gas is making breakthroughs in key technologies of the seamless conversion in pits of green drilling fluid and cementing fluid, the integration of nano - supercritical carbon dioxide fracturing - gas repelling for recovery ratio increase - geological storage and burial, underground in situ hydrogen production synergy for recovery ratio increase and carbon dioxide storage, hydrogen-doped natural gas pipeline network transportation, underground large-scale hydrogen storage bank, and intelligent perception early warning and dynamic optimization control. Besides, the major scientific research infrastructure ‘Key System for In Situ Zero-carbon Conversion of Oil and Gas and Low-carbon Efficient Development and Utilization’ has been developed and built. Through the above efforts, the research center is able to realize the independent and original innovation of the theory and technology for China’s green development and utilization of natural gas.

The expert panel believes that the research center, which adheres to China’s “carbon peaking and carbon neutrality” policy, targets the international and domestic advanced level, and devotes efforts to the research of the green development and utilization of natural gas, is able to assist China and Sichuan in the green development of natural gas.

On the occasion of the first anniversary of the Laboratory’s establishment, the organization of a demonstration conference on the construction schemes of research centers is of great significance for the Laboratory to carry out technological innovation, platform construction, and talent development. At the next stage, the Laboratory will provide all-round support for the construction and development of research centers in terms of technology, personnel, and equipment, promote the high-quality development of low-carbon industries and the green transformation of the economy and society, further contributing to the realization of the “carbon peaking and carbon neutrality” goals.