On February 21, 2026—the fifth day of the first lunar month in the Year of the Horse—Shanghai was bathed in warm sunshine as a profoundly meaningful "doorstep award ceremony" took place with great warmth. Professor Wang Zhifeng, Chairman of the China Solar Thermal Alliance, and Professor Dai Yanjun, Chairman of the Shanghai Solar Energy Society, jointly presented the "2025 Outstanding Contribution Award for Solar Thermal Utilization Science and Technology" to Professor Zhang Hefei of Northwestern Polytechnical University. The highest tribute and weighty honor of the industry were bestowed upon this scientific research luminary who has dedicated nearly half a century to the solar energy field.
At the ceremony, Chairman Wang Zhifeng provided Professor Zhang Hefei with a detailed briefing on the latest developments in international solar thermal utilization technology, his words filled with deep respect and admiration for the senior pioneer. He expressed heartfeltly that Professor Zhang Hefei, having devoted nearly 50 years to solar thermal utilization, is undoubtedly a trailblazer and founder in this field in China. Through decades of perseverance, Professor Zhang has diligently pursued fundamental research, bravely climbed the peaks of technological innovation, and wholeheartedly cultivated industry talent. He established the core theoretical framework for collectors and solar thermal utilization, driving breakthroughs and engineering applications in multiple key technologies. With a lifetime of dedication, he has laid a solid foundation for the high-quality development of China's solar thermal utilization industry.
Professor Dai Yanjun also spoke with great respect, introducing Professor Zhang Hefei as a rigorous scholar and exemplary educator. Through decades of dedication to teaching, he has nurtured countless students, producing a large number of industry-leading talents and making indelible contributions to the disciplinary development and industrial upgrading of solar thermal utilization in Northwest China and across the nation.
Holding this "unexpected" honor, Professor Zhang Hefei, accompanied by his wife Professor Yu Jindi, reflected on the remarkable years gone by. He fondly recalled the challenging yet passionate research journey of the 1980s and 1990s, paid tribute to the veteran colleagues who fought alongside him, and expressed heartfelt admiration for the thriving development of China's solar thermal utilization science and technology today. Professor Zhang sincerely thanked the industry for its recognition and his colleagues for their companionship along the way—his words simple yet filled with infinite love for scientific research.
This "doorstep award ceremony" broke away from the conventional award presentation format, delivering the honor in the most heartfelt manner to the veteran scientists who have made significant contributions to the solar energy cause. It not only demonstrated high recognition of Professor Zhang Hefei's personal scientific achievements but also served as a profound tribute to the perseverance and dedication of the older generation of scientists, injecting warm and steadfast momentum into the passing of the torch and innovative development of China's solar thermal utilization industry.