The sixth session of the Carbon Neutrality and Energy System Transformation (CNEST) Frontiers Seminar was successfully hosted at Tsinghua University’s Institute for Carbon Neutrality on May 27. The event featured a keynote by Professor Michael Hood, Foreign Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering. He Kebin, CAE Academician and Director of the Institute, presented Prof. Hood with a commemorative plaque, while Professor Lu Xi, Assistant to the Dean of the Institute, chaired the seminar.

In his presentation titled “Net-Zero CO₂ Equivalent Emissions by Mid-Century: Nearly Impossible, Yet We Must Strive,” Prof. Hood highlighted both the challenges and opportunities in achieving global carbon neutrality. He emphasized that energy has been central to improving quality of life and powering industrial economies, with worldwide energy demand projected to rise by at least 50% over the next 30 years. Transitioning from fossil fuels to new energy sources faces five major hurdles: the need for large-scale investments in energy storage and grid upgrades, demands for land and critical minerals, and securing public support. He noted that China is already a global leader in renewable energy, nuclear power, carbon capture, and energy storage technologies, while Australia excels in LNG and mineral resources—making the two nations natural partners in advancing the net-zero transition.

As a renowned expert in mining technology, Prof. Hood also shared insights on the role of the mining sector in global decarbonization. In a second talk, “Non-Explosive Rock Breaking: Waterjet-Assisted Cutting,” he explained that rock fragmentation, which consumes about 7% of the world’s electricity, is a critical step in mining. He introduced several technologies developed by his team since the 1970s to reduce energy use, equipment wear, and environmental impact in mining operations.

Prof. Hood is an internationally recognized leader in mining and energy technology innovation and commercialization. He holds a PhD from the University of the Witwatersrand and founded CRCMining, an international mining research organization, which he led for two decades. In 2023, he was awarded the Chinese Government Friendship Award.

The CNEST Frontiers Seminar Series is organized by the CNEST Multilateral Cooperation Program and the World Carbon Neutrality Society (preparatory), and hosted by Tsinghua’s Institute for Carbon Neutrality, with the goal of sharing cutting-edge research, industrial advances, and policy trends in carbon neutrality and energy system transformation.