Jing-Ming Chen, a Ph.D. candidate of CEEP-BIT, went to the Technical University of Berlin (TU Berlin) in October 2019 to carry out a one-year doctoral joint training with the support of China Scholarship Council. His supervisor in TU Berlin, Prof. Frank Behrendt, is the Head of the Department of energy process engineering and conversion techniques of renewable energies (EVUR). Being a member of the German Academy of Engineering Sciences (acatech) and a corresponding member of the Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences (SATW), he is also an advisory professor of Beijing Institute of Technology. Prof. Behrendt focuses on experiment and simulation of the renewable technologies, economic and ecological assessment, and energy system modeling, etc.

　　Jing-Ming Chen is currently working on energy system modeling, energy-saving, and industrial green development. His research makes emphasis on the chemical industry, which is intensive in energy use and technology layout. From a comprehensive perspective of energy-environment-technology-economic, Jing-Ming Chen also intends to conduct his research on roadmap optimization, technology layout, emission reduction potential assessment, and economic evaluation of low-carbon transition. In this way, it can provide policy implications for the decision making of low-carbon transition and sustainable development. As a key sector of energy use and CO2 emissions, the chemical industry can promote its energy-saving and emissions reduction by adjusting producing ways, optimizing feedstock structure, and promoting advanced technologies. Furthermore, some breakthrough technologies (e.g. biomass conversion, CO2 capture and utilization, hydrogen production based on low-carbon electricity) can not only promote the emissions reduction of the chemical industry but also will make chemical industry play an important role in climate mitigation.

　　During the visit, Jing-Ming Chen made full use of research advantages of CEEP-BIT and TU Berlin, and the combination of them promoted his interdisciplinary research, thus further supporting the energy-technology roadmap planning and decision making.

　　Jing-Ming Chen actively participated not only in the various academic activities of EVUR at the TU Berlin but also in academic reports or meetings at the German Energy Agency, Siemens, and other universities or institutes, which covered multiple disciplines. Besides, he visited a low-carbon base named EUREF Campus, which has a sustainable renewable energy system, with the potential to be a smart city district of the future.

Participating in academic activities during the visiting study

　　With such experiences of participating in various academic activities and visiting practice at the TU Berlin, Jing-Ming Chen broadened his academic horizons and gained a deeper understanding of energy technologies and renewable energy systems. This will to a great extent help him advance his research in the future.