Forum on Energy Interconnection in Asia Pacific
3^rd March 2023 at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology

On 3^rd March 2023, the Forum on Energy Interconnection in Asia Pacific was organized by IEEE Asia-Pacific Region (R10), sponsored by the Global Energy Interconnection Development and Cooperation Organisation (GEIDCO), and held at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, Vietnam. The Forum is timely and serves as an example of a practical step to address the issue of climate change.

Professor Liang Xuming, Chief Technology Officer of GEIDCO opened the meeting and was followed by Professor Lance Fung, IEEE R10 Director, who welcomed the guests and delegates. He outlined the mission and vision of IEEE, with an overview of IEEE Region 10. He identified the alignment of objectives between IEEE and GEIDCO, and he thanked GEIDCO for the support of the forum.

Professor Rahman gave an overview of his focus on Climate Change and in particular, the six steps he proposed to combat Climate Change – Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy, Carbon Capture and Storage, Electric Vehicles, Smart grids, and, Education and Awareness. He reiterated that no single solution such as Renewable energy will work and a multi-pronged approach has to be adopted, of which, Global Energy Interconnection (GEI) is one of it.

Addresses were then subsequently given by

• Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP)
• Nguyen Tai Anh, Vice President of Vietnam Electricity (EVN)
• Nguyen Danh Thao, Vice President of Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology.
• Liu Zehong, Executive Vice Chairman, GEIDCO

The Research finding, “Opportunities and Outlook on Power Interconnection in the Asia-Pacific Region” was released by GEIDCO.

The meeting continued with a number of technical presentations, chaired by Mr. Xu Ming, Deputy Director General of Co-operation Bureau of GEIDCO. The eminent speakers and experts who addressed the forum were:

1. Matthew Wittenstein, Chief of Energy Connectivity Section, Energy Division, UNESCAP
2. Chai Gaofeng, Deputy General Manager, State Grid Energy Research Institute Co., Ltd.
3. K.S. Bandyopadhyay, Former Executive Director of National Thermal Power
4. Guo Qi, Deputy Director General of Electric Power Research Institute, China Southern Power Grid
5. Duan Daxi, Deputy Chief Engineer, China Electric Power Equipment and Technology Co., Ltd.

Mr. Deepak Mathur, IEEE R10 Director (2021-2022) summarised the key points and delivered a closing remark.

After the Forum, Professor Rahman and leaders of IEEE held another meeting with officers of GEIDCO to discuss opportunities for future cooperation. It is hoped that this will be the beginning of a productive cooperation between interested IEEE organizational units and individuals in the IEEE and GEIDCO, working together for a better tomorrow.

IEEE President Professor Saifur Rahman addressed the Forum on Energy Interconnection in Asia Pacific.

Group photo of speakers and representatives from IEEE, GEIDCO, and invited organizations.

Presentation of Gift from GEIDCO to Professor Saifur Rahman.

Author: Vijay S Paul

Chair, 2023 IEEE R10 Information Management Committee