On July 19, 2026, the leadership transition assembly of the Solar Thermal Power Committee of Chinese Renewable Energy Society was held at the Innovation Harbour of Xi'an Jiaotong University. Over one hundred representatives from universities, research institutes, Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) manufacturing enterprises, and power planning sectors attended the meeting. The assembly was chaired by Du Fengli, Secretary-General of the second committee, featuring cutting-edge academic seminars and the election of the third committee.
Shao Jinyou, Professor and Vice President of Xi'an Jiaotong University, delivered the opening address. This year marks the 130th anniversary of the university's founding and the 70th anniversary of its westward relocation. Leveraging the China Western Innovation Harbour, the university has established a full-chain industry-university-research system. He stated that under the dual-carbon goals, CSP serves as an important peaking base power source for the new-type power system, and the university will collaborate with industry experts to promote high-quality industrial development.
Wang Zhifeng, Researcher at the Institute of Electrical Engineering of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Director of the second committee, pointed out the technological and industrialization challenges facing the industry, emphasizing that CSP technological innovation requires deep integration of multiple disciplines including engineering thermophysics, optics, and materials. He presided over the academic exchanges, during which Ji Jie, Wei Jinjia, Dai Yanjun, Huang Wenbo, Huang Yuehui, Xiao Gang, Lei Dongqiang, and other industry experts delivered thematic reports on cutting-edge directions of CSP, presenting the latest domestic research achievements.
The assembly conducted the transition procedures in accordance with regulations. Representatives completed Party lecture studies and reviewed the work and financial reports of the second committee. Through secret ballot, Professor Wei Jinjia of Xi'an Jiaotong University was elected as Director of the third committee; Dai Yanjun, Huang Wenbo, Kou Jianyu, Lei Dongqiang, Ling Xiang, Xiao Gang, and Xu Ruina were elected as Deputy Directors; Du Fengli was reappointed as Secretary-General. Wang Zhifeng was nominated as Honorary Director, and Ji Jie, Jin Jianxiang, and Wang Weisheng were appointed as Advisors. The new 43-member committee covers all sectors of industry, academia, and research, forming an echelon of professional talent.
Professor Wei Jinjia delivered his inauguration speech, and Secretary-General Du Fengli reported on annual work and the five-year development plan. Representatives discussed that the national 15-million-kilowatt CSP plan brings development opportunities, but the industry faces challenges including policy instability, limited supply of core components, and inefficient technology transfer. Four key priorities were identified: expanding membership, regularizing technical exchanges, establishing platforms for young professionals and Party building, and conducting joint research through the molten salt energy storage platform.
Advisors Ji Jie and Wang Weisheng pointed out that the peaking and energy storage value of CSP lacks a market-based pricing mechanism, and the industry's development lacks long-term institutional safeguards. They recommended advancing cost parity by integrating with diversified new energy tracks. Wei Jinjia concluded that the committee will rely on interdisciplinary collaboration and industry-education integration to break through industrial bottlenecks.This assembly completed the handover between the outgoing and incoming leadership teams. The new committee will coordinate multi-party efforts to resolve industrial pain points, consolidate the foundation for new-type power system construction, and contribute to green and low-carbon energy transformation.
