“Clean energy research should always strive for real-world impact. This is where we’re building the foundation for decarbonisation.”
Prof. Zhang Hua
Director
Hong Kong Institute for Clean Energy
As Director of HKICE, Prof Zhang has dedicated his career to developing scientific solutions that make clean energy more
scalable, sustainable, and transformative.
Known internationally for his pioneering work in phase-engineered nanomaterials (PENs), Prof. Zhang has not only led breakthrough advances in hydrogen production and electrocatalysis, but he has also shaped the strategic and interdisciplinary direction of HKICE since its formation.
Scaling HKICE’s Interdisciplinary Mission since its establishment in 2021, HKICE has grown into a thriving ecosystem of over 60 faculty members, shaped around key research pillars such as energy generation, storage, distribution, and efficiency, a transformation guided by Prof Zhang’s strategic vision.
His particular interest lies in translating fundamental nanomaterials research into actionable energy solutions, including
hydrogen generation technologies that use solar/electricity-powered water splitting.
“HKICE is a platform that brings experts from different backgrounds together to solve one of the biggest challenges of our generation,” he explains. Clean energy, he believes, is a multi-disciplinary endeavour that connects science, engineering, policy, industry and education.
Prof Zhang has helped establish a culture of cross-sector and international collaboration by encouraging partnerships with
government departments, local utilities and overseas academic institutions. He describes HKICE as a bridge “between research and application, between scientists and economists, between Hong Kong and the world.”
Equally committed to fostering talent, he is a vocal advocate for public engagement on the belief that nurturing energy literacy from secondary school is just as important as doing so at the university and postgraduate levels. “We need more young people who see clean energy not just as a career but as a shared mission,” he says.
He also plays a key role in strategic partnerships by joining forces with other key HKICE members to initiate joint research
ventures, secure international grants and host high-level forums with collaborators across Europe and Asia. His efforts have made HKICE an increasingly visible player on the global clean energy research stage.
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