On March 31, the World Green Design Parallel Forum of 2025 Zhongguancun Forum Annual Conference was held in Beijing. Dr Paulo Debiagi, an assistant professor at the China Beacons Institute of University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC), was honored with the title of "Senior Green Design Engineer" for his extensive research and contributions in the field of green energy.
Since 2021, the World Green Design Forum has become one of the core parallel sub-forums of the Zhongguancun Forum, which has been held in Beijing for many consecutive years, attracting nearly 1,000 representatives of industries, universities and research institutes from more than 20 countries and regions to discuss green design, sustainable engineering, new quality productivity, green and low-carbon cities and other topics.
The "Green Design Engineer" certification is assessed by the World Green Design Organization, which aims to recognize the experts and talents who have contributed to the process of tackling global climate change, showing the professional height and cutting-edge technological achievements in the field.
As an outstanding young scientist in the field of renewable energy, Dr Debiagi has long been committed to the intersection of green chemistry, renewable energy, and sustainable process design. Base on his profound understanding of material circulation pathways and the principle of energy cascade utilization, he consistently advanced the innovative practice of the circular economy concept.
At the 2024 Pujiang Innovation Forum, he shared the concept of "Clean Circles" project, innovatively suggesting the use of recyclable metal-based fuels to retrofit traditional coal-fired power plants. This proposal has pioneered a new, technically feasible path for the zero-carbon transition of the energy industry, and as a consequence, supports zero-carbon transition of the steel industry.
In addition to making important breakthroughs in the field of scientific research, Dr Debiagi actively promoted the application of circular economy concepts in his teaching. In his classroom, he incorporates this concept into the teaching of "Materials and Sustainable Processes", inspiring students to explore the potential of green technological innovation.
In his acceptance speech, Dr Debiagi said, this honor is not only an affirmation of his own scientific research and exploration, but also a recognition of all those who are committed to promoting the low-carbon transitions of industry, and a strong demonstration of the infinite possibilities of combining technological excellence with ecological responsibility.
In addition, he also expressed deep gratitude to the university, saying, "the open academic atmosphere and innovative environment at UNNC have enabled me to break traditional boundaries through interdisciplinary exchanges and to harness technological power to safeguard our future with greater determination."
At the forum, Dr Debiagi also shared a series of recent technological breakthroughs, such as biomass-to-chemicals, biomass-to-fuels, steam and dry reforming of methane, metal-based recyclable fuels, and oxy-fuel combustion technologies. These innovations have established a solid technical foundation for the development of clean energy and chemicals, the attainment of carbon neutrality goals, and the low-carbon transition of industrial sectors, offering practical solutions.
Particularly noteworthy is the green chemistry and renewable energy simulation technology grounded in virtual environments. This technology significantly reduces reliance on physical experiments, enabling researchers to screen and evaluate materials and technologies prior to actual experimentation, thereby avoiding resource waste and optimizing the allocation of research resource. Additionally, in process amplification analysis research, this simulation technology helps accurately identify challenges that may arise during the transition from laboratory or pilot stages to industrial scale, providing strong support for technology promotion.
Looking ahead, Dr Debiagi will continue to focus on green design and sustainable development, fostering the integration of technological innovation with industrial practice, and contributing greater expertise and dedication to global low-carbon transitions and sustainable development.
Published on 31 March 2025