Keynote Speakers | 主旨报告

Prof. Wei Xu, Institute of Electrical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China

Wei Xu (IEEE Fellow) received the double B.E. and M.E. degrees from Tianjin University, Tianjin, China, in 2002 and 2005, and the Ph.D. from the Institute of Electrical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IEECAS), in 2008, respectively, all in electrical engineering. His research topics mainly focus on design and control for linear machines and drives. From 2008 to 2012, he made Postdoctoral Fellow with University of Technology Sydney, Vice Chancellor Research Fellow with Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Japan Science Promotion Society Invitation Fellow with Meiji University, respectively. From Oct. 2013 to Dec. 2023, he was one Professor with Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China. Since Jan. 2024, he has been one professor with IEECAS and Director for State Key Laboratory of High Density Electromagnetic Power and Systems . He is IEEE Fellow, IET Fellow, and CES Fellow. He is the General Chair for 2021 International Symposium on Linear Drives for Industry Applications (LDIA 2021), 2023 IEEE International Conference on Predictive Control of Electrical Drives and Power Electronics (PRECEDE 2023), 2025 International Conference on Renewable Energy and Electrical Technology (ICREET 2025), and 2026 International Conference on New Energy System and Power Engineering (NESP 2026) . He has been Associate/Editor for over ten peer-reviewed IEEE journals, including IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, and so on. He has authored/edited 12 books, published over 210 IEEE journal papers, been granted over 150 invention patents in the related field of LMs and drives, which has been cited by over 14,000 times with H-index 58 based on Google Scholar till August 2026.

Title: High Performance Linear Oscillatory Machine and Drive System

Abstract: The linear oscillatory machine can directly generate linear reciprocating driving force, offering advantages such as the absence of motion conversion mechanisms, high transmission efficiency, and low vibration and noise. It holds broad application prospects in numerous fields, including linear compressors, Stirling cryocoolers, combined heat and power systems, and vibration energy recovery. This lecture will elaborate on the working principles, structural topologies, equivalent models, control methods, and system integration technologies of linear oscillatory machines. Based on industrial application requirements, it will discuss in detail the challenges (pain points) faced by linear oscillatory machines in areas such as electromagnetic characteristics, control strategies, and manufacturing processes, along with corresponding solutions. Moreover, future development trends will be explored and prospects discussed.

Prof. Josep Pou, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Josep Pou (Fellow, IEEE) received the B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from the Technical University of Catalonia (UPC)-Barcelona Tech, Spain. In 1990, he joined the faculty of UPC as an Assistant Professor, where he became an Associate Professor in 1993. From 2013 to 2016, he was a Professor with the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australia. From 2016 to 2024, he was a Professor with the Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore, where he was co-Director of the Rolls-Royce @ NTU Corporate Lab and Cluster Director of Power Electronics at the Energy Research Institute at NTU (ERI@N). He is currently a Chair Professor with the City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China. From February 2001 to January 2002, and February 2005 to January 2006, he was a Visiting Professor at the Center for Power Electronics Systems, Virginia Tech, USA. From January 2012 to January 2013, he was a Visiting Professor at the Australian Energy Research Institute, UNSW. He has authored over 500 peer‑reviewed technical papers and is a co‑inventor on 10 patents. His research interests include modulation and control of power converters, multilevel converters, renewable energy, energy storage, power quality, HVdc transmission systems, and transportation electrification. He is currently Editor of the IEEE Journal of Emerging and Selected Topics in Power Electronics. He was co-Editor-in-Chief and Associate Editor of the IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics. He received the 2024 IEEE PELS Sustainable Energy Systems Technical Achievement Award and the 2018 IEEE Bimal Bose Award for Industrial Electronics Applications in Energy Systems.

Title: High-Power AC-DC Converters for Data Center Electricity Supply

Abstract: The rapid growth of cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and digital services is driving an unprecedented increase in electricity demand within modern data centers, placing stringent requirements on efficiency, power density, and reliability of their electricity supply systems. This talk begins with a brief introduction to the university and the research team, outlining their activities in power electronics and energy conversion. An overview of current data center power consumption trends is then presented, together with projections of future demand and the associated challenges for grid interfacing. The presentation reviews traditional AC–DC power converter topologies commonly adopted in data center electricity supply, highlighting their advantages and limitations. Advanced solutions based on solid-state transformers (SSTs) are subsequently introduced as a promising alternative, offering enhanced power density, modularity, and flexible control. Particular attention is given to the control strategies required to ensure stable operation and fast dynamic response of SST-based architectures. Finally, the talk explores the potential application of diode-clamped (neutral-point-clamped) multilevel converters within this context.

 

Prof. João Soares, Polytechnic of Porto, Portugal

Prof. João Soares is a senior researcher at GECAD (ISEP/P.Porto), holding a PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering from UTAD (2017). His research focuses on the operation and planning of electrical energy systems integrating renewable generation, energy communities, and electric vehicles, combining artificial intelligence with real-world energy market applications. He has cultivated extensive international collaborations, notably with São Paulo State University (UNESP) and Centrale Lille, where he has served as a visiting professor since 2019. His partnerships also extend to the Honda Research Institute Europe and leading universities in India, bridging academic research with industry innovation. Prof. Soares has participated in more than 30 national and international research projects, acting as Principal Investigator in ten, including initiatives under the Horizon/H2020 framework. He recently secured five private R&D contracts focused on energy communities and electric mobility, reflecting his strong track record of translating research into industry impact. He has authored over 250 scientific publications, with more than 7,000 citations and an h-index of 47. Beyond research, he has co-led 16 special issues in high-impact journals and reviewed over 350 manuscripts. As an educator, he has taught AI, electric mobility, and smart grid courses at ISEP, UNESP, and Centrale Lille, and has mentored over ten PhD candidates and over 30 MSc students over the past five years. Prof. Soares is an IEEE Senior Member , currently chairs the IEEE ISATC Task Force on Computational Intelligence for the Energy Domain and serves as Secretary of the IEEE PES Intelligent Systems Subcommittee. He has organized over 40 international events, including workshops and competitions, and is a frequent invited speaker at plenary and keynote sessions worldwide.

Title: Energy Sharing for Maximizing Renewable Self-Consumption in Urban Context

Abstract: Urban areas face growing renewable curtailment and grid congestion as rooftop PV, electric vehicles, and distributed storage proliferate faster than local networks can absorb them, exposing the limits of individual, uncoordinated self-consumption. This talk explores how energy sharing, through local energy communities and energy storage coordination, enables neighbors, buildings, and EV fleets to jointly exploit local renewable generation rather than compete for it. Real-world case studies illustrate how coordinated sharing mechanisms increase collective self-consumption, reduce peak demand, and lower costs compared to isolated prosumer strategies. The talk highlights how sharing schemes can be designed to be fair, scalable, and grid-aware, balancing individual incentives with network constraints. It closes with practical guidelines for deploying energy-sharing schemes in cities today, supported by lessons from ongoing pilot projects within the European context.