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PolyU launches InnoHK I-GET to build intelligent grid for carbon-neutral future

Research & Innovation Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Prof. Christopher Chao, PolyU Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation) (2nd from left); Prof. Zheng Zijian, PolyU Vice President (Knowledge Transfer) (1st from right); Prof. Chung Chi-yung, Director of InnoHK I-GET (1st from left); and Prof. Sir Bashir M. Al-Hashimi, Co-Director of InnoHK I-GET (2nd from right), attended the press conference and introduced InnoHK I-GET.
Prof. Christopher Chao, PolyU Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation) (2nd from left); Prof. Zheng Zijian, PolyU Vice President (Knowledge Transfer) (1st from right); Prof. Chung Chi-yung, Director of InnoHK I-GET (1st from left); and Prof. Sir Bashir M. Al-Hashimi, Co-Director of InnoHK I-GET (2nd from right), attended the press conference and introduced InnoHK I-GET.
Prof. Christopher Chao said PolyU was committed to contributing to advancing frontier research in sustainability and energy leveraging the interdisciplinary research strengths of InnoHK I-GET.
Prof. Christopher Chao said PolyU was committed to contributing to advancing frontier research in sustainability and energy leveraging the interdisciplinary research strengths of InnoHK I-GET.
Prof. Chung Chi-yung commented that with its base in Hong Kong, InnoHK I-GET could connect Chinese Mainland with the rest of the world and is committed to advancing smart grid technology and standard-setting.
Prof. Chung Chi-yung commented that with its base in Hong Kong, InnoHK I-GET could connect Chinese Mainland with the rest of the world and is committed to advancing smart grid technology and standard-setting.
Prof. Sir Bashir M. Al-Hashimi said that this collaboration brought together leading academics and industry partners from around the world to reimagine a future power grid that is more resilient, sustainable and intelligent.
Prof. Sir Bashir M. Al-Hashimi said that this collaboration brought together leading academics and industry partners from around the world to reimagine a future power grid that is more resilient, sustainable and intelligent.
Prof. Zheng Zijian expressed high expectations for InnoHK I-GET, noting that it will provide a platform for interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge transfer across a wide range of power-related research domains, including artificial intelligence, advanced materials and new energy technologies.
Prof. Zheng Zijian expressed high expectations for InnoHK I-GET, noting that it will provide a platform for interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge transfer across a wide range of power-related research domains, including artificial intelligence, advanced materials and new energy technologies.

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has officially established the InnoHK Research Centre for Intelligent GRID and Energy Technologies (InnoHK I-GET). Joining “SEAM@InnoHK”, the third cluster under the Hong Kong SAR Government’s InnoHK research platform, InnoHK I-GET is the only InnoHK initiative dedicated to power grid technology. Based in Hong Kong, it will bring together scientific and industrial strengths from Hong Kong, Chinese Mainland and around the world to advance the research, validation, standard-setting and industrialisation of smart grids and frontier energy technologies, supporting the Nation and Hong Kong in achieving their carbon neutrality goals.

With the rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) data centres, electric vehicles and distributed renewable energy, global electricity demand continues to surge, and the one-way power transmission structure of the traditional grid can no longer cope with sharply fluctuating supply and demand. Coupled with the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, this poses a severe challenge to the resilience of urban power systems. Ensuring a stable and intelligent power supply has therefore become crucial to both urban development and national energy infrastructure.

Leveraging AI and big data analytics, InnoHK I-GET drives the upgrading of traditional power grids, enabling the coordinated operation of modern large-scale grids and distributed microgrids, monitoring electricity usage across different areas of the grid in real time and coordinating power supply and demand, thereby enhancing the resilience and reliability of the power system. In line with this, InnoHK I-GET has established four key research areas: autonomous energy management technologies for smart grids, green and intelligent grid interfaces, grid-friendly new energy transport, and emerging grid and energy technologies, comprehensively advancing the development and application of smart grid technology. Related research will span the fields of smart grids, microgrids, electrified transportation, AI and large models, intelligent buildings, power electronics, advanced materials, cybersecurity and quantum technologies, driving multi-disciplinary innovation to address the technological challenges of future energy systems.

The Director of InnoHK I-GET is Prof. CHUNG Chi-yung, Head of the PolyU Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Chair Professor of Power Systems Engineering and Director of the Research Centre for Grid Modernisation, with Prof. Sir Bashir M. AL-HASHIMI, Senior Vice President (Research & Special Initiatives) of King’s College London, serving as Co-Director. The Centre brings together an interdisciplinary team of more than 70 professors from Hong Kong, Chinese Mainland and overseas, and collaborates with world-leading institutions including King’s College London, Tsinghua University, Université Gustave Eiffel, National Technical University of Athens, Oxford Suzhou Centre for Advanced Research, University of Sheffield and Suzhou National Laboratory.

Prof. Christopher CHAO, Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, said: “PolyU has built extensive research strengths in power systems and AI, and the establishment of the Centre marks a proud milestone in our ongoing commitment to turning frontier research into real-world solutions that address global challenges. The Nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan prioritises a comprehensive green transition and the modernisation of traditional power grids into flexible, interactive smart architectures. As a global top-50 university, PolyU is committed to contributing to this goal, leveraging the interdisciplinary research strengths of InnoHK I-GET to advance frontier research in sustainability and energy. In doing so, we aim to support the Nation’s high-quality development and technological self-reliance.”

Prof. Chung Chi-yung said: “As an international financial centre and innovation and technology hub, Hong Kong has extremely high demands for the stability of its power supply, which provides an ideal setting for developing and applying innovative technologies related to the modernisation of smart city grids. Based in Hong Kong, InnoHK I-GET is well positioned to connect Chinese Mainland with the rest of the world. Serving as a platform for technology testing, validation and global showcasing, the Centre is committed to advancing smart grid technology and setting industry standards, helping to align Chinese Mainland standards with international ones.”

Prof. Sir Bashir M. Al-Hashimi said: “Power grids are critical infrastructure for modern life, yet much of today’s infrastructure is ageing and was not designed for an increasingly connected and technology-driven society. King’s College London is delighted to play a key role in this international research consortium. This InnoHK-funded research centre provides an excellent opportunity to strengthen collaboration between King’s College London and PolyU, while bringing together leading academics and industry partners from worldwide to reimagine a future power grid that is more resilient, sustainable, intelligent and capable of supporting everything from electric vehicles to AI-enabled services.”

Funded by the InnoHK research initiative and based at the Hong Kong Science Park, InnoHK I-GET brings together 60 key industry partners, including China Southern Power Grid Company (CSG), CLP Power Hong Kong Limited, HK Electric and Companhia de Electricidade de Macau – CEM, S.A.. A recent Memorandum of Understanding between PolyU and CSG consolidates this network, focusing on joint talent development and technological innovation to energise the power sector across the GBA and beyond. Such strong industry engagement underscores PolyU’s established reputation and research strength in the energy domain.

Outlining the vision for InnoHK I-GET, Prof. Chung highlighted a comprehensive strategy for commercialisation. The pipeline begins with technology transfer at Hong Kong Science Park, moving to pilot demonstration and production at the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park in the Northern Metropolis. Backed by Hong Kong’s robust financial infrastructure and global talent pool, the Centre is set to translate its research breakthroughs into international standards, bringing Hong Kong’s technologies to the world.

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