Prof. Xiao-Dong Zhou
University of Connecticut, USA
Professor Xiao-Dong Zhou is the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund professor in Sustainable Energy, The Nicholas E. Madonna Chair in Sustainability, Director of the, Center for Clean Energy Engineering, and a Professor in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Materials Science and Engineering at University of Connecticut. He is a special advisor to UConn President Radenka Maric in Sustainability. Dr. Zhou received J. B. Wagner Jr. Young Investigator Award in 2007 from the Electrochemistry Society - High Temperature Materials Division. He is the recipient of 2011 US DOD – DARPA Young Faculty Award. He is a Fellow of the Electrochemical Society. His research interests span theoretical and experimental studies of materials and interfaces for energy systems, including batteries, fuel cells, and electrolyzers.
Assoc. Prof. Ernest Kian Jon Chua
National University of Singapore, Singapore
Dr. Chua Kian Jon is an internationally recognized expert in clean thermal energy systems. His research spans thermal energy recovery, hybrid cooling, desiccant dehumidification, solar-assisted systems, and thermal energy storage for buildings and industrial applications. He is internationally recognized for pioneering work in dew-point evaporative cooling, membrane dehumidification, and waste heat recovery, enabling low-energy solutions for sectors such as buildings, data centres, EVs, and district cooling. Dr. Chua has published over 280 SCI-indexed journal papers, eight monographs, and holds more than 10 patents. A Fellow of the Royal Society, IET, Energy Institute, and IMechE, he ranks among the top 1% of scientists globally (USERN) and top 2% of energy researchers per Stanford since 2021, with 17,500+ citations and an H-index of 70. He is the founding Editor-in-Chief of Thermal Science and Engineering (Nature Portfolio) and serves as Associate Editors of numerous journals in Elsevier, Springer, Wiley, and Taylor & Francis. A two-term NUS Dean’s Chair holder, he has received multiple international awards and leads major competitive research projects and is frequently invited to deliver plenary and keynote lectures and serve on technical committees at major international conferences. His work continues to shape the future of sustainable thermal energy systems across Asia and beyond.
Speech title "Clean and Green Thermal Energy Technologies for a Decarbonized Future"
Abstract-Clean thermal energy technologies are playing an increasingly vital role in global decarbonization efforts, particularly in the heating and cooling sectors, which together account for a significant portion of total energy use. This presentation introduces an innovative smart quad-generation system designed to simultaneously deliver electricity, heating, cooling, and potable water through a highly integrated and energy-efficient process. Tailored for tropical regions, the system leverages a smart thermal cascading strategy that recovers and redistributes waste heat to maximize overall system efficiency. Compared to conventional systems, this approach offers up to 30% energy savings and 2 to 4% reductions in CO2 emissions, making it a promising clean energy solution for both building and industrial applications. Its compact footprint and resource efficiency address critical regional needs, particularly in water-scarce and cooling-intensive environments. Aligned with international clean energy objectives, this work showcases a scalable and impactful approach to strengthening the synergy between energy, water, and environmental sustainability.