Keynote Speakers
Assoc. Prof. Chua Kian Jon Ernest
National University of Singapore, Singapore
Dr. Chua Kian Jon is currently an Associate Professor with the Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore. He has been conducting research on renewable energy systems and heat recovery systems since 1997. He has conducted both modelling and experimental works for specific thermal energy systems including the applications of AI and machine learning methods. He is highly skilled in designing, fabricating, commissioning, and testing of many sustainable energy systems to provide heating, cooling and humidity control for both small- and large-scale applications. He has more than 280 international SCI-indexed peer-reviewed journal publications, and 8 recent monographs on advances in sustainable thermal energy and cooling systems.
He has been elected to several fellowships including Fellow of Royal Society, Fellow of Institution of Engineering and Technology, Fellow of Energy Institute and Fellow of IMechE. Consistently, he is highlighted among the top 1% of scientists in the world by the Universal Scientific and Research Network, top 2% of energy researchers in Elsevier database, and top 0.3% in the Stanford list of energy researchers. His works has garnered more than 17,500 over citations with a current H-index of 71. He is the Associate Editor of several reputable journals in Elsevier, Wiley, and Taylor & Francis. He is on the editorial boards of numerous journals in Elsevier, Springer, Wiley, Taylor & Francis, and MDPI. Further, he owns more than 10 patents related to several innovative cooling and dehumidification systems. On a regular basis, he has been invited to deliver many international plenaries, and keynote talks on his research findings. He is the Principal Investigator of several multi-million competitive research grants. Additionally, he has been awarded multiple local, regional, and international awards for his breakthrough research endeavors.
Speech Title: Empowering Decarbonization through Green Thermal Energy Innovation
Abstract:Green thermal energy is rapidly emerging as a transformative solution in the global effort to decarbonize heating and cooling which are two of the most energy-intensive and carbon-heavy sectors. Traditionally used for space conditioning and industrial processes, thermal energy offers vast potential when integrated with intelligent system design. This presentation showcases a next-generation smart quad-generation plant; a fully integrated system that simultaneously delivers electricity, potable water, cooling, and heating from a single energy source. Optimized for tropical climates, the plant employs a smart temperature cascading strategy to recover and reuse waste heat, significantly boosting efficiency. Offering up to 30% energy savings and significant CO₂ emission reductions over conventional systems, this compact, high-performance solution marks a major step forward in sustainable infrastructure. Its design is especially impactful in regions with high cooling needs and limited water resources. By linking energy, water, and environmental performance, the cascading thermal system not only cuts carbon emissions but also strengthens the energy-water-environment nexus, providing a scalable path toward net-zero goals.
Prof. Xiaorong Wang
Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, China
Wang Xiaorong is a professor in the School of Mechanical Engineering at Jiangsu University of Science and Technology. She has long been engaged in research in the fields of mechanical and power engineering, as well as new energy. Currently, she serves as the Deputy Chief Technology Officer of Tway Machine Tool Co., Ltd. and is a member of the Chinese Society of Aeronautics and Astronautics. She has presided over multiple research projects, including the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province, Jiangsu Province Graduate Education and Teaching Reform Projects, subprojects of the Army General Armament Project, and other horizontal projects. Professor Wang has received two third-prize awards for scientific and technological progress at the provincial and ministerial level, two second-prize awards for scientific and technological progress at the municipal and departmental level, and one third-prize award for outstanding scientific and technological papers in Zhenjiang City. She has also been honored with a third-prize award for graduate teaching reform achievements in Jiangsu Province, a second-prize award in the Jiangsu Province Micro-lecture Teaching Competition, and the title of "Advanced Individual in Teacher Ethics in Zhenjiang City."