COVER STORY • 封面專題 15 2025 UMAGAZINE 32 • 澳大新語 regulation capabilities and integration of renewable energy. These efforts are helping transform Shenzhen into a low-carbon city in the Greater Bay Area. Smart Regulation of Electrified Transport and Power Grids Around 25% of Macao’s direct carbon emissions come from its land transport system. To reduce these emissions, the electrification of land transport has become a key focus of the Macao SAR government’s Long-term Decarbonisation Strategy. At UM, research teams are working on EV charging load modelling and analysis, charging and discharging control, and charging infrastructure planning. In collaboration with Companhia de Electricidade de Macau (CEM), the university has developed the Macao Smart Charging Management Platform to optimise the city’s charging infrastructure. Partnering with China Southern Power Grid, UM has also pioneered technologies for large-scale, orderly EV charging and discharging control, along with solutions to improve the resilience of power systems. These innovations have been implemented in Guangdong and Hainan, contributing to the joint advancement of SDG7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG13 (Climate Action). The operational efficiency of power distribution networks—often referred to as the ‘capillaries’ of urban power systems—is critical to achieving decarbonisation goals. However, in Macao and other cities in the Greater Bay Area, high load densities, complex grid structures, and limited operational flexibility pose significant challenges. To address these issues, UM researchers have leveraged AI and big data-driven technologies to develop solutions. According to Zhang Hongcai, associate professor in SKL-IOTSC, his team has deleloped ‘data-driven non-parametric techniques for energy system operation and control’, an innovative approach that helps modernise distribution networks. Unlike traditional methods that depend on precise physical parameters, these AI-based techniques enable precise modelling and intelligent control of complex urban grids. By enhancing the ability of power networks to accommodate distributed solar and wind power as well as the growing demands for EV charging, these innovations support the safe, efficient, and low-carbon operation of urban power systems. Successful Implementation in Hengqin UM’s innovative technologies have proven their value in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin. In collaboration with the State Power Investment Corporation Limited, UM researchers have applied data-driven technologies to optimise the operation of centralised cooling systems, enabling smart and efficient district-level energy management. According to Prof Zhang, the project leader, the system uses ice thermal energy storage technology to balance energy demand. Energy is stored by producing ice during off-peak hours and is released during peak periods as the ice melts to provide cooling. This approach not only reduces strain on the power grid during high-demand periods but also takes advantage of lower-cost electricity when demand is low. In 2023, the system successfully reduced overall energy consumption at the No 3 Energy Station of the district cooling system in the Cooperation Zone by 6%, while lowering electricity costs by 11.45%. Reflecting on the project’s broader impact, Prof Zhang says, ‘As collaboration in the energy and power markets continues to deepen across the Greater Bay Area, this technology will help drive district energy systems towards lower carbon emissions and greater intelligence, supporting the gradual achievement of carbon neutrality in urban areas.’ Regenerating Water Resources: Turning Waste Into New Value As a coastal city, Macao’s livability is closely connected to its marine environment. In light of this, UM has established the Centre for Regional Oceans to advance research on marine pollution prevention and control. The centre aims to improve water quality in coastal cities, promote cleaner urban environments, and safeguard public health. A research team led by Hao Tianwei, associate professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Centre for Regional Oceans of the Faculty of Science and Technology, focuses on developing technologies for wastewater purification and resource recovery. One of their key achievements is the ‘in-situ coagulation-electrochemical oxidation system’, which represents a major improvement over conventional biological and/or chemical coagulation-based wastewater treatment approaches
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