On December 18, nearly 200 representatives from governments, associations, corporations, universities and research institutions from home and abroad attended the 9th International Forum on Clean Energy & Net-zero Carbon Island in Hengqin or via video link. This year's forum featured Greater Strides in Achieving Carbon Peak and Carbon Neutrality.

Fu Yongge, deputy director of the Executive Committee of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin noted that, driven by the goals of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, the Zone is undertaking the creation of the Intelligent Energy Center affiliated with the Greater Bay Area National Center of Technology Innovation, as well as the platforms for innovative R&D, tech services, and cooperation based on the integration of different industry chains, and advancing Hengqin to be the foremost pilot area to achieve the two carbon-related goals. Fu looked forward to more new energy innovations developed into applicable programs.

Francesco La Camera, the Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency, laid out prospects of the renewable energy industry and underlined the importance of the Paris Agreement. On the common goal to keep climate change within limits, he suggested that the decreased cost of renewable energy will make it more competitive, thus increasing the diversity of the renewable energy mix and industry investment. He also called on global efforts to push forward the development of the hydrogen energy industry and relevant international cooperation via sharing market experience, so as to achieve a fairer and more sustainable energy transition.

At the conference, SPIC and Siemens Energy jointly released the China County Green and Low-Carbon Energy Development Report. It is the first report that focuses on the energy development and outlines the energy transition in Chinese counties, providing new ideas for green and low-carbon energy development in these regions. Both parties undertook to pool international strength to conserve the ecosystem of the Earth, and contribute wisdom to green and low-carbon energy development. 2022 Blue Book of Clean Energy was also launched at the conference.

Meanwhile, the State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC) announced plans to cooperate with GE Commerce (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. and entered into a Memorandum of Understanding on Strategic Cooperation in HCNG Engine Project with the company. It also signed a cooperation agreement with Macao Productivity and Technology Transfer Center and Macao Millennium College on promoting integration between science and education, and jointly building Hengqin Zero-carbon College, respectively. Under these agreements, SPIC will join hands with parties concerned in Macao to extend cooperation in Hengqin, and establish a training platform for talent with vocational skills by promoting industry-education integration.

Held under the theme of "China's Goals of Carbon Peak and Carbon Neutrality - Abiding by the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals", the conference has invited academicians from the Chinese Academy of Engineering, experts from businesses, universities and research institutions to deliver speeches.

There were six sessions concerning topics such as energy-technology innovation, road shows of innovative programs, tech innovation funds cooperation, global carbon trading and finance, development of hydrogen energy industry, and green infrastructure projects.

Experts said that it would be a great challenge for us to popularize the use of clean energy and achieve sustainable development in the course of our economic and social development. We should strengthen integration of energy-technology innovation, talent, capital, and industrial chains, and promote energy-technology innovation to help boost China's strength in energy development.

This conference was co-hosted by International Forum for Clean Energy (Macao), Greater Bay Area National Technological Innovation Center, and State Power Investment Corporation Limited under the guidance of China Economic and Social Council.