Repower China Summit 2026

Beijing, China |15th APR, 2026

Repower China Summit 2026 · Exploring pathways to repower coal assets in China

Organised by Repower Initiative in collaboration with Tsinghua University.

 

The Repower China Summit will bring together researchers, policymakers, system operators and industry leaders to explore the role that repowering could play in China’s energy transition.

With China operating the world’s largest fleet of coal power plants, the question of what happens to this infrastructure is becoming increasingly important. Repowering offers a potential pathway to transform existing coal assets into clean energy hubs while preserving valuable infrastructure and supporting local economies.

This summit will create a space for open exchange, new ideas and collaboration around the future of coal assets in a low-carbon energy system.

Venue: Crowne Plaza Zhongguancun.
09:00 Beijing (CST)

 

Follow the conversation
Stay updated on the Repower China Summit and our broader work on repowering in China.
!
Having trouble viewing the form? Some browser extensions may prevent it from loading. Please disable your ad blocker for this page and refresh.
Programme
Speakers and detailed session formats may still evolve as additional participants are confirmed.
PREVIOUSNext
09:00 – 09:05
Opening Remarks
Tsinghua University · Repower Initiative
Opening remarks from the summit organisers and partners introducing the objectives of the Repower China Summit 2026 and framing the role of repowering in China’s energy transition.
09:20 – 09:40
Repowering Coal-to-Nuclear: Worldwide Developments and the Role of the IAEA
An overview of global developments in coal-to-nuclear repowering and the role of international institutions in supporting the pathway from coal assets to clean energy infrastructure.
09:40 – 10:00
Poland’s Clean Energy Transition
Insights from Poland’s transition away from coal and the research exploring how repowering pathways can support decarbonisation while reusing existing infrastructure.
10:00 – 10:20
Nuclear’s Role in China’s Decarbonisation
A perspective on how nuclear energy may support China’s long-term decarbonisation strategy alongside renewables, while contributing to energy security and system stability.
10:20 – 10:30
Launch of China RepowerScore
Presentation of the China RepowerScore and its role in identifying coal assets with strong potential for repowering pathways in China.
10:30 – 10:40
Coffee Break
10:40 – 12:10
Panel 1 — Decarbonisation Policy
This panel will explore how governments are approaching decarbonisation policy and to what extent current policy frameworks align with repowering pathways. Discussion will focus on where policy can enable and accelerate repowering in the near term.
12:10 – 14:00
Group Photo & Lunch
14:00 – 15:20
Panel 2 — Coal-to-Nuclear in China
A discussion on whether coal-to-nuclear repowering could align with China’s net-zero plans, including timelines, reactor types, supply chain readiness, regulatory change and potential use cases such as district heating, captive power and industrial parks.
15:20 – 15:30
Coffee Break
15:30 – 16:40
Panel 3 — Repowering Commercialisation: International
This panel will explore what it takes to move repowering from paper studies to real-world projects. Speakers will discuss successful factors, investor motivations and concerns, and the advice they would give to asset owners and policymakers.
16:40 – 17:00
Closing Remarks
Repower Initiative
Summary of key insights from the day and reflections on the next steps for advancing repowering in China and internationally.

Related Resources

Repower has a wealth of resources about the coal transition in China. Check out all our China resources here.

READ THE RELATED RESOURCES
Meet the Speakers
Meet the experts and leaders driving the global transition to clean power.
Dr. Staffan Qvist
Chairman of the Board, Repower Initiative
Bryony Worthington
Board Member
Łukasz Bartela
DEsire
Zhang Xiliang
Tsinghua University, 3E Institute
Anna Skorek-Osikowska
Academic
Phuong Nguyen
3E Analyst, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Dr. Yaoli Zhang
Academic
Professor Ning Li
Founding Dean, College of Energy, Xiamen University
Satya Yudha
National Energy Council Indonesia
Pawel Gladysz
Academic
Yuan Yuan
HSBC
Przemysław Sokoła
Director for Nuclear Projects, EPK
Zhou Sheng
Tsinghua University
Julia Skorupska
Head of Office, Powering Past Coal Alliance (PPCA)
Li Wei
CPEEC / CEEC
Wang Jianwei
GNC
Zhiyu TIAN
Professor, Director of Sustainable Development Center, Energy Research Institute, NDRC
Li Jifeng
Xie Dian
China Huaneng Group
Cheng Huifang
State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC)
The Organisers
Discover the organisations and partners making Repower events possible.
Dr. Staffan Qvist
Chairman of the Board, Repower Initiative

Staffan is a Swedish engineer and consultant to clean energy projects around the world. He is the coauthor of the book, A Bright Future: How Some Countries Have Solved Climate Change and the Rest Can Follow (PublicAffairs Books, January 2019).

Bryony Worthington
Board Member

Baroness Bryony is a life peer in the UK House of Lords and a life-long environmental campaigner. She was the lead author on the 2008 Climate Change Act, a landmark piece of legislation which legally requires the UK to reduce its emissions to a level 80% lower than its emissions in 1990.

Łukasz Bartela
DEsire

Łukasz Bartela is an Associate Professor in the Department of Power Engineering and Turbomachinery at Silesian University of Technology.

Zhang Xiliang
Tsinghua University, 3E Institute

Zhang Xiliang is a professor at Tsinghua University and director of the Institute of Energy, Environment and Economy (3E). His research focuses on energy policy, climate mitigation strategies and energy system modelling, and he has been widely involved in research supporting China’s long-term energy transition strategies.

Anna Skorek-Osikowska
Academic

Anna Skorek-Osikowska is a Full Professor in the Department of Power Engineering and Turbomachinery at the Silesian University of Technology.

Phuong Nguyen
3E Analyst, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

Phuong Nguyen is an analyst in the Planning and Economic Studies Section (3E) at the International Atomic Energy Agency. His work focuses on energy system modelling, energy planning tools and the role of nuclear technologies in supporting low-carbon energy transitions.

Dr. Yaoli Zhang
Academic

Yaoli Zhang is an Associate Professor at Xiamen University, and has a strong research background in mathematical modelling, optimisation, heat transfer, fluid flow, Python, and Matlab, holding a Ph.D. in Energy from Tsinghua University.

Professor Ning Li
Founding Dean, College of Energy, Xiamen University

A distinguished professor, who has held notable roles at UC Berkeley and Los Alamos National Laboratory. He is globally recognised for his work in nuclear research and development. He is the co-founder and senior advisor of Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation, a US company dedicated to the development and commercialization of advanced nuclear energy based on innovations on fuel and micro modular reactor. He has been a member of the Expert Committee for the State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation (working with Westinghouse to build the world’s first AP1000s and develop new designs), a senior advisor and Director for Asia Development of TerraPower, a research affiliate of MIT, and the Industrial Fellow for Civilian Nuclear Programs at LANL.

Dr. Li has extensive R&D experiences in nuclear energy and fuel cycle technologies, and was a planner, leader and participant in a number of US DOE civilian nuclear energy programs, including Generation IV Nuclear Energy Systems, Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative and Accelerator-driven Waste Transmutation.

Satya Yudha
National Energy Council Indonesia

Satya Yudha is an energy policy expert and former member of Indonesia’s National Energy Council (DEN). His work focuses on national energy strategy, energy security and pathways for the transition of coal-dependent power systems in Southeast Asia. He has been actively involved in shaping discussions on Indonesia’s long-term energy transition and policy development.

Pawel Gladysz
Academic

Pawel Gladysz is as an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Energy and Fuels at AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow.

Yuan Yuan
HSBC

Yuan Yuan works on sustainability and energy transition initiatives at HSBC. Her work focuses on the role of finance in enabling clean energy deployment and supporting pathways for the transition away from coal-based power systems.

Przemysław Sokoła
Director for Nuclear Projects, EPK

Przemysław Sokoła is Director for Nuclear Projects at EPK, working on nuclear energy projects and their development.

Zhou Sheng
Tsinghua University

Zhou Sheng is a Researcher and PhD Supervisor at the Institute of Energy, Environment and Economy (3E), Tsinghua University. His work focuses on China’s energy transition, including pathways for decarbonising the power and industrial sectors, as well as the role of nuclear and hydrogen in achieving national climate targets.

Julia Skorupska
Head of Office, Powering Past Coal Alliance (PPCA)

Julia Skorupska is the Head of Office of the Powering Past Coal Alliance (PPCA), a global coalition of governments, businesses and organisations working to accelerate the phase-out of unabated coal power. Her work focuses on international climate policy, coal transition strategies and supporting countries in delivering a just and effective shift away from coal-based energy systems.

Li Wei
CPEEC / CEEC
Wang Jianwei
GNC
Zhiyu TIAN
Professor, Director of Sustainable Development Center, Energy Research Institute, NDRC

MS graduate from Tsinghua University in 2006. He focuses on policy research on energy transition and low-carbon development. TIAN Zhiyu participated in compiling China’s Energy Revolution, Energy Conservation and Tackling Climate Change strategies, plans and policies, and published over 20 papers and 6 books. TIAN Zhiyu has been awarded by NDRC, NEA and AMR, and was a visiting scholar in Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, USA (2009, 2015).

Li Jifeng

Researcher, Development Research Center of the State Council (DRC), China

Li Jifeng is a researcher at the Development Research Center (DRC) of the State Council of China, a government-affiliated think tank providing policy research and strategic advice on economic and social development.

Xie Dian
China Huaneng Group

Xie Dian works at China Huaneng Group, a major state-owned energy company involved in power generation and energy development in China.

Cheng Huifang
State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC)

Cheng Huifang works at State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC), one of China’s major state-owned energy companies involved in power generation and energy development.