From December 14 to 16, 2024, the Jiangsu Hydropower Engineering Society hosted its annual academic conference in Zhenjiang. Over 100 experts, scholars, and professionals from academia, industry, and governmental agencies convened to explore pathways for technological innovation in smart water conservancy, hydropower development, and carbon neutrality.

Centered on the theme "Opportunities and Challenges for Smart Water Conservancy Development Under the Dual Carbon Goals," the event was co-organized by the National Research Center of Pumps and the Jiangsu University Zhenjiang Research Institute of Fluid Engineering Equipment Technology.

The opening ceremony was chaired by Li Tongchun, Secretary-General of the Jiangsu Hydropower Engineering Society.

During the opening remarks, Professor Li Hong, Standing Committee Member of the Party Committee and Vice President of Jiangsu University, introduced the university’s research strengths and achievements in hydraulic machinery and smart water conservancy. She highlighted, "Hydraulic machinery, especially pumps and pumping stations, has always been a traditional area of expertise at Jiangsu University. Our Fluid Machinery and Engineering program is the only national key discipline in China that focuses on pump research. It has achieved significant results in major national projects such as the South-to-North Water Diversion and the Yangtze-to-Huaihe Water Diversion." She called for further strengthening of collaboration between academia, industry, and research institutions to explore the application of intelligent and digital technologies in hydropower, contributing to the healthy and sustainable development of the hydropower industry.

Professor Xu Hui, President of the Jiangsu Hydropower Engineering Society, emphasized that smart water conservancy is a critical driver of water resource modernization. He stated, "The integration of digital and intelligent technologies not only improves the efficiency of water resource utilization but also fosters the development of clean energy and ecological preservation. While China has built the largest and most widely distributed water infrastructure system in the world, benefiting the largest population, the level of intelligentization still has significant room for improvement. This conference aims to explore opportunities and challenges for smart water conservancy under the dual-carbon goals through academic exchange, injecting new momentum into the industry’s development." Professor Xu also commended the society’s contributions over the past 40 years in advancing hydropower technology and innovation.

The opening ceremony also featured the 2024 Jiangsu Hydropower Engineering Society Science and Technology Awards, which recognized outstanding contributions made by research teams and individuals in related fields.

The conference included a series of remarkable keynote presentations by leading experts and scholars, including:

1.Professor Zhou Chuangbing, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Nanchang University, on "Digital Intelligence Empowering Safety Control of Reservoirs and Dams";

2.Professor Gu Chongshi, Dean of the Institute of Hydraulic Engineering at Hohai University, on "Data- and Physics-Driven Theories and Technologies for Service Safety of Major Hydraulic Projects";

3.Researcher Yuan Shouqi, Director of the National Research Center of Pumps at Jiangsu University, on "Key Technologies and Applications of Pump Devices in Large-Scale Water Diversion Projects";

4.Researcher Chen Qiuwen, Director of the Ecology and Environment Institute at the Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute, on "Ecological and Environmental Effects of River Damming and Regulatory Technologies";

5.Professor-Level Senior Engineer Xu Jijun, Deputy Chief Engineer and Director of the Water Resources Division at the Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute, on "Pathways to Innovating New Productivity in Hydraulic Engineering";

6.Senior Engineer Hu Peng, Director of the Water Ecology Research Division at the China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, on "Hydrodynamic Demands of Typical Fish Species and Key Technologies for Precise Hydraulic Project Regulation";

7.Professor Cheng Li, Dean of the College of Hydraulic Science and Engineering at Yangzhou University, on "Key Technologies for Integrated Management Platforms in Smart Hydropower Plants";

8.Professor-Level Senior Engineer Li Shuming, from Nanjing River Hohai Automation Co., Ltd., on "Unsteady Flow Dynamics and Control for Reverse Turbine Operation in Vertical Pump Stations";

9.Senior Engineer Wang Jianping, from the Pearl River Hydraulic Research Institute, on "Urban Flood Management Strategies for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area";

10.Senior Engineer Huo Jianwei, from the Yellow River Engineering Consulting Co., Ltd., on "Digital Twin Construction Practices in Hydraulic Engineering";

11.Senior Engineer Tao Congcong, from NARI Group’s Engineering Monitoring and Management Informatization Division, on "Monitoring and Operational Practices of Hydraulic Gate Safety."

At the closing session, Guo Feng, Vice Secretary-General of the Jiangsu Hydropower Engineering Society, delivered a comprehensive report summarizing the academic achievements of the conference and providing insights into future directions for smart water conservancy development.

The 2024 Annual Academic Conference of the Jiangsu Hydropower Engineering Society not only provided a high-level academic platform for discussions on smart water conservancy but also further deepened the collaboration model of academia-industry-research integration. Participants unanimously agreed that the future development of smart water conservancy must be guided by digitalization and intelligentization, with continuous scientific and technological innovation driving progress toward achieving the dual-carbon goals.