Topic 2: Stability Control and Operation of Grid-Forming Converters

As global carbon neutrality goals continue to advance, clean ocean energy technologies and equipment are becoming a key intersection between energy transition and maritime economic strategy. This special topic focuses on the full-chain technologies spanning resource capture, energy conversion, and grid integration in major engineering scenarios such as offshore wind power, floating photovoltaic systems, marine energy, marine hydrogen energy, oil and gas development, and deep-sea exploration. It emphasizes the exchange of key scientific issues in the field of ship and marine engineering, including hydrodynamic analysis methods (analytical, numerical, and experimental), safety and reliability assessment and full-life-cycle prediction of marine structures, fatigue durability of dynamic submarine cables and mooring systems, reliability of large-scale turbines and flexible HVDC transmission equipment in deep and open seas, as well as equipment protection and corrosion control under high-salt-spray and high-humidity environments. It also explores advanced sensing, measurement, control, digitalization, and big data technologies for energy and power systems in the context of the “dual carbon” goals; structural health monitoring, intelligent operation and maintenance, and digital-twin-based early warning for offshore wind and photovoltaic systems; and multi-energy integration modes such as wind-fish integration, agro-photovoltaic synergy, integrated electricity-hydrogen-ammonia-alcohol systems, multi-energy complementarity on islands, and standalone microgrids. This special topic aims to promote the organic connection among fundamental theory, equipment development, and engineering demonstration in the clean ocean energy field, support the standardized, large-scale, and diversified development of China’s marine energy technologies, and provide technical pathways and decision-making references for the integrated development of deep-sea energy resources.

Chair

Assoc. Prof. Hua Xiao

Guangzhou Maritime University

Hua Xiao is an associate professor at Guangzhou Maritime University, a member of the Special Committee on New Energy and Energy Saving & Emission Reduction Technologies for Ships of the Guangdong Shipbuilding Engineering Society, and an editorial board member of the international journal Journal of Ammonia Energy. Dr. Xiao Hua received his doctorate from Cardiff University, UK, and currently serves as an associate professor at Guangzhou Maritime University. His research focuses on efficient development and utilization technologies for low-carbon ammonia-hydrogen energy. He has published more than 40 academic papers, including over 20 indexed by SCI, with more than 6,900 citations on Google Scholar. He has received awards including the IGTI Academic Award, the South Wales Engineers’ Society Award, and the “Top 100 Innovative Doctors and Postdoctoral Researchers in Guangdong Province.” In recent years, he has participated in organizing the 1st to 3rd International Conference on Ammonia Energy and has served on the Scientific Advisory Committee. He has also served as an editorial board member of the Journal of Ammonia Energy, a session chair for the 1st and 3rd International Conferences on Ammonia Energy, and a conference chair for the 12th International Conference on Power and Energy Systems. In 2024 and 2025, he was listed among Elsevier’s Top 2% Scientists in the World.