The Sino-German Expert Forum on Sustainable Energy Systems was successfully held in Berlin on July 8. Co-hosted by Tongji University School of Economics and Management (Tongji SEM) and XJ Electric Co., Ltd., and organized by the Tongji SEM German-Sino Center, the forum leverages the SEM-XJ International Joint Innovation Center for Sustainable Energy Management as a high-level exchange platform. Centered on power grid transformation, infrastructure standards and innovative energy applications, the event fosters academic exchange, technical learning and industrial collaboration between China and Germany’s energy sectors.

The forum brought together more than 30 leading energy experts from both countries. German participants came from authoritative institutions, top universities and industry leaders including dena (German Energy Agency), Fraunhofer IEE, GIZ, VDE FNN, Ruhr-Universität Bochum and Siemens Energy. Chinese delegates included specialists from State Grid Europe Research Institute, XJ Electric and Tongji University. Qian SHI, the Chairman of School Council of Tongji SEM, delivered an opening address. He stated that low-carbon energy transition is a shared global challenge, and China and Germany boast strong complementary strengths and broad cooperation prospects. He expressed hopes that the forum would deepen technical exchanges, expand cooperation scenarios and jointly deliver practical solutions for worldwide energy transition. Zhanfeng FAN, Deputy General Manager of XJ Electric, also attended the event.

Six Chinese and German experts delivered thematic presentations covering policy frameworks, technological R&D and engineering implementation, integrating cutting-edge academic findings with real industrial practices. Markus Wypior, Director of the Sino-German Energy Transition Programme at GIZ, outlined the overarching framework and policy mechanisms for bilateral energy cooperation. Dr. Malte Siefert from Fraunhofer IEE presented advanced forecasting technologies addressing grid operation challenges by 2030, while Professor Volker Staudt of Ruhr-Universität Bochum explained standardized converter architectures and technical pathways from grid compliance testing to large-scale on-site deployment. Meanwhile, specialists from XJ Electric shared industry-ready breakthroughs, including coordinated control technologies for industrial microgrid source-grid-load-storage systems, integrated high-power charging and energy storage solutions, and research plus engineering applications of dry-air insulated switchgears rated at 40.5kV and below, sparking in-depth discussions among attendees.

This forum marks a key initiative for Tongji SEM and its German-Sino Center to support China’s “Dual Carbon” goals and advance industry-university-research cooperation with Germany. Moving forward, the school will fully utilize the joint innovation center to link universities, research institutes and industrial players from both nations. It will carry out in-depth practical collaboration in energy technology innovation, cross-recognition of industrial standards and joint training of high-end talents, build a high-standard dialogue ecosystem for sustainable energy between China and Germany, and contribute Tongji’s expertise to developing a new energy system and advancing global low-carbon energy transition.