Wuxi leads the charge in YRD new energy industry

The unveiling and launch ceremony of the Yangtze River Delta new energy joint innovation center kicks off in Wuxi, East China's Jiangsu province, on June 19, 2024. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The vibrant industrial city of Wuxi in East China's Jiangsu province witnessed a momentous occasion as the State Grid Wuxi Power Supply Company played host to the unveiling and launch ceremony of a new energy joint innovation center for the Yangtze River Delta on June 19.

The highly-anticipated center is set to span a total area of 14,514 square meters, featuring state-of-the-art amenities such as vehicle-grid interaction, liquid-cooled ultra-fast charging, vehicle pile testing, battery swapping facilities, new types of photovoltaic wind turbines, and hydrogen energy storage capabilities, which will become a pioneering stronghold for developing new quality productive forces in the energy sector through close collaboration among enterprises, universities, and research institutions.

Qiu Aici, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, expressed her optimism when delivering a speech at the ceremony, stating, "With exceptional research teams, innovative talents, and industrial units converging here, extensive collaborations and exchanges are set to flourish. Through this innovative model, I believe this center will evolve into a crucial technical pillar supporting new energy innovation in the Yangtze River Delta and beyond."

The unveiling of the center also marks a pivotal step towards establishing Wuxi as an internationally influential headquarters base for new energy equipment. The city, boasting a full-chain coverage of the new energy equipment industry, has been accelerating the construction of a modern industrial system, resulting in a thriving new energy industry with a market size exceeding 200 billion yuan ($27.55 billion) by 2023, according to Zhang Lijun, deputy mayor of Wuxi.

"With the continuous development of the innovation center, it is foreseeable that more high-level technologies and high-grade standards in the energy and power sector will emerge," said Huang Xiaoxi, chairman of the Yangtze River Delta Energy Research Institute.

Furthermore, the joint innovation center will welcome a host of research institutions and universities to settle in. "Universities need to be in sync with the market demands of the industry. Through this platform, we will stay closely linked with the industry's needs," said professor Yan Zheng of Shanghai Jiao Tong University during the event.

The State Grid Wuxi Power Supply Company released an action plan during the event, which introduces the company's efforts and practices in areas such as the integration and interaction between new energy vehicles and the power grid, as well as the construction of innovative enterprises.

The company has established the largest vehicle-grid interaction verification base within State Grid's operating area since 2023, implementing orderly charging and reverse discharging services, according to Chen Zhigang, deputy general manager of the company.

The inauguration of the Wuxi New Energy Industry Alliance was also announced at the ceremony, aimed at facilitating collaboration, business negotiations, and shared development opportunities among industry players. Leading enterprises such as Wuxi UtmoLight and Changzhou-based SVOLT Energy have already joined the alliance, underscoring the industry's enthusiasm for collective progress.