In order to respond to the national strategic goal of "carbon peaking and carbon neutral" and the major demand for green and low-carbon transition development in the 14th Five-Year Plan, the "3rd National Symposium on Energy Underground Structure and Engineering" was successfully held in Shenzhen on 25th December 2021. On 25th December 2021, the 3rd National Symposium on Energy Subsurface Structures and Engineering was successfully held in Shenzhen. The symposium was hosted by the Special Committee on Energy Subsurface Structures and Engineering of the Chinese Society of Rock Mechanics and Engineering, Shenzhen University, Tsinghua University and Hohai University, and organized by the Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal Resilient Infrastructure of Shenzhen University, The College of Civil and Transportation Engineering，Shenzhen University and other six units. With the theme of "Opportunity and Leadership", the conference set up one invited presentation forum and two thematic sub-forums. At the conference, the "China Rock Mechanics and Engineering Society Professional Committee on Energy Subsurface Structure and Engineering" was inaugurated. The conference was supported by Shenzhen Survey and Mapping Institute (Group) Limited and China Construction Technology Group Limited.

Inauguration of the Professional Committee on Energy Subsurface Structure and Engineering of the Chinese Society of Rock Mechanics and Engineering

The conference invited Professor Qian Qihu (online), the recipient of the highest national science and technology award, member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and member of the Army Engineering University, Professor Guo Renzhong, member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, member of the International Eurasian Academy of Sciences and member of the Shenzhen University, Professor Li Qingquan, Secretary of the Party Committee and President of Shenzhen University and member of the International Eurasian Academy of Sciences, Professor Chen Xiangsheng, member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Dean of  the College of Civil and Transportation Engineering，Shenzhen University , Professor He Chuan, Vice President of Southwest Prof. He Chuan, Vice President of Jiaotong University, Prof. Tang Chunan of Dalian University of Technology, Prof. Li Xiaozhao of China University of Mining and Technology, Prof. Xia Caichu of Ningbo University, Prof. Cui Hongzhi, Director of Science and Technology Department of Shenzhen University, Prof. Li Weiwen, Secretary of Party Committee of the College of Civil and Transportation Engineering，Shenzhen University and other more than 150 experts and scholars in energy geotechnical and related fields attended the conference.

Group photo of the 3rd National Symposium on Energy Underground Structures and Engineering

The conference started promptly at 8:20am with our President Chen Xiangsheng presiding over the conference. Chen expressed his warm welcome and heartfelt thanks to all the participants and invited Professor Li Qingquan, Secretary of the Party Committee and President of Shenzhen University, to deliver the opening speech for the conference. Professor Li Qingquan said that the efficient development and use of clean energy is a vital way to achieve the "double carbon" goal. The underground structure of energy provides a concrete solution to achieve the "double carbon" goal in China, and its research is of great importance as it will develop from serving individual buildings to empowering urban areas in the future.

Professor Li Qingquan, Secretary of the Party Committee and President of Shenzhen University, addressed the conference

Academician Qian Qihu, winner of the highest national science and technology award, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and professor of the Army Engineering University, gave an invited presentation entitled "Underground Engineering for the Achievement of the Double Carbon Goal", pointing out that underground space is a strategic territorial resource with broad development and application prospects. As a carrier of geothermal energy, it has a high degree of environmental stability and can provide sufficient and stable spatial support for various carbon emission reduction and carbon sink technologies. Academician Qian systematically introduced various ways of developing and utilising underground space and its important role in achieving the "double carbon" target. Academician Qian's excellent report provided guidance to the experts and scholars in the audience from the current state of science and technology, future trends and other aspects. After the presentation, everyone expressed their respect to Academician Qian with a warm applause.

Academician Qian Qihu, recipient of the highest national science and technology award, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and professor of the Army Engineering University, gave an invited presentation on "Underground Engineering to Serve the Achievement of Double Carbon Goals" (online)

Academician Guo Renzhong, member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, member of the International Eurasian Academy of Sciences and professor at Shenzhen University, gave an invited presentation entitled "Digital Twin Cities - Key Technologies and Applications". In a graphic report, Academician Guo clearly introduced the importance of digital twin city construction, and launched a detailed analysis on how to build an urban big data platform. Guo said that the digital twin city is a "parallel world" to the real physical city, and that it plays a reciprocal, shared and communal role in the physical city; the digital twin city is the future model of modern urban governance. Guo's fascinating presentation made the audience think about the huge potential of digital twin technology in the field of energy and geotechnical applications.

Invited presentation by Academician Guo Renzhong, member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, member of the International Eurasian Academy of Sciences and professor of Shenzhen University, entitled "Digital Twin Cities - Key Technologies and Applications

This was followed by excellent invited presentations by Professor Li Xiaozhao from China University of Mining and Technology, Professor Tang Chunan from Dalian University of Technology, Professor Xia Caichu from Ningbo University and Professor Cui Hongzhi from Shenzhen University.

Academician Chen Xiangsheng, member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Dean of  the College of Civil and Transportation Engineering，Shenzhen University , presided over the conference

Invited presentation by Professor Li Xiaozhao of China University of Mining and Technology on "Energy Subsurface Structure and Efficient Synergistic Development of Shallow Geothermal Energy

Invited presentation by Professor Tang Chun'an of Dalian University of Technology on "Enhanced Geothermal Systems based on Excavation Technology and its Rock Mechanics Challenges

Invited presentation by Professor Xia Caichu of Ningbo University on "Different forms and applications of energy underground structures

Invited presentation by Prof. Cui Hongzhi of Shenzhen University entitled "Technological Progress of "Geothermal+" Multi-energy Complementation

In the afternoon of the same day, 16 experts and scholars from major universities, enterprises and research institutions across China gave exciting presentations in two sessions. Prof. Cheng Xiaohui, Prof. Bao Xiaohua and Prof. Kong Gangqiang hosted the session presentations.