分类： technology

As the global push for decarbonization reaches every corner of industrial activity, the international shipping sector — a long-contributing source of global carbon emissions — is facing mounting pressure to green its operations. Now, China State Shipbuilding Corp (CSSC), the world’s largest shipbuilding group, has delivered a major breakthrough in wind-assisted propulsion technology with the development of one of the world’s largest commercially viable rotor sail systems, built to capture growing global demand for sustainable shipping solutions.

Designed and developed by CSSC’s Luoyang Ship Material Research Institute, an R&D center specializing in advanced shipbuilding materials and engineering techniques, the unnamed new rotor sail has already completed a full suite of ground-based system tests, clearing a key milestone ahead of commercial deployment. Engineers leveraged the institute’s deep existing expertise in green composite materials and wind turbine blade design to refine the system’s performance and durability, resulting in a cutting-edge product that outperforms many smaller existing rotor sail models on the market.

Standing 35 meters tall with a diameter of 5 meters, the new system ranks among the largest rotor sail designs ever brought to testing phase. Each unit can reach a maximum rotational speed of 180 revolutions per minute, generating over 355 kilonewtons of thrust to help propel fitted vessels. For context, rotor sails — also known as Flettner rotors — operate on a simple but effective physical principle: upright spinning cylinders mounted on a ship’s deck interact with surrounding wind flow to create usable thrust, reducing the need for fossil fuel-powered propulsion.

First invented in the 1920s, rotor sail technology saw extremely limited adoption for nearly a century, deployed only on a small handful of cargo ships and experimental test vessels before the 2010s. But as the global shipping industry, which moves more than 80% of world trade volume by volume and accounts for roughly 3% of global carbon emissions, has faced growing mandatory decarbonization requirements, the technology has experienced a rapid renaissance. Today, rotor sails are increasingly being integrated into commercial vessels ranging from bulk carriers to roll-on/roll-off ships.

Feng Wei, project manager for the new CSSC rotor sail, outlined the urgency of decarbonization in a press briefing Friday, noting that the green transition in shipping has evolved from an optional sustainability measure to a mandatory global requirement aligned with international climate goals. “Wind-assisted propulsion represents one of the most promising and practical pathways for the shipping industry to achieve immediate emission reductions,” Feng said.

Unlike other wind-assisted propulsion technologies, Feng explained, rotor sails offer unique practical benefits that make them ideal for widespread commercial adoption. They take up minimal deck space, do not interfere with standard cargo loading and unloading operations, operate with a high degree of automation, and require almost no modifications to a vessel’s original structure or standard operating procedures. These characteristics make them suitable for installation across most major commercial vessel types, including bulk carriers and oil tankers, with average fuel savings ranging from 5% to 25% per voyage.

Beyond emission reductions, the system delivers tangible economic benefits for shipowners: it helps buffer against volatile global oil prices and cuts down on future carbon tax expenses that will come into force as international decarbonization regulations tighten. The new design also incorporates a network of smart exterior sensors, boosting its automation capabilities and making it exceptionally easy to control and maintain.

Industry projections from leading global research organizations cited by Feng forecast that around 7,000 ships worldwide will be fitted with wind-assisted propulsion systems by 2030, with that number jumping to roughly 21,000 by 2050. CSSC’s new large-format rotor sail positions the Chinese shipbuilding giant to capture a substantial share of this fast-growing global green shipping technology market, while supporting the global shipping industry’s collective push to cut carbon emissions and meet international climate targets.

China’s ongoing human space exploration program reached a new milestone earlier this week, when the three-person Shenzhou XXI crew stationed at the nation’s Tiangong space station successfully wrapped up their third extravehicular activity, according to official announcements from the China Manned Space Agency.

The excursion, which concluded at 1:36 a.m. Beijing Time on Friday, saw mission commander Senior Colonel Zhang Lu and spaceflight engineer Major Wu Wu spend roughly five and a half hours operating outside the massive orbiting outpost before returning safely to the Wentian experimental module. The third member of the crew, payload specialist Zhang Hongzhang — a researcher from the Chinese Academy of Sciences — remained inside the space station throughout the spacewalk to coordinate operations and provide critical in-orbit support.

Working in tandem with ground control teams and leveraging the station’s robotic arm for assistance, the astronauts checked off every scheduled task on their itinerary, including the installation of protective shields designed to mitigate damage from orbital space debris and comprehensive inspections of extravehicular hardware.

This spacewalk carries special historical significance for China’s human space program: it marks the 27th extravehicular activity conducted by Chinese taikonauts overall, and it is the seventh spacewalk for commander Zhang Lu. With this milestone, the 49-year-old Hunan-born astronaut has become the new record holder for the most spacewalks completed by any Chinese astronaut. Zhang previously completed four spacewalks during his first mission, the six-month Shenzhou XV expedition that launched in November 2022.

The Shenzhou XXI mission is China’s 16th crewed spaceflight, and the trio has served as the 10th long-term resident crew aboard Tiangong, currently the only operational space station fully developed and operated independently by a single nation. The crew has now lived and worked in low-Earth orbit for more than five months, having arrived at the station on November 1, 2025.

Over the course of their stay, Zhang Lu and his crewmates have carried out a wide range of work, from cutting-edge scientific experiments in space life science, human physiology and microgravity physics to routine maintenance and operations. These routine tasks include in-orbit environmental monitoring, regular equipment checks and upkeep, and organization of cargo delivered to the station. The team has also completed required emergency preparedness training, including a full-system pressure emergency response drill and on-orbit emergency survival training, alongside all pre-deployment preparations for extravehicular activities.

In a surprise announcement included in the agency’s news release, officials confirmed that after comprehensive technical analysis and risk assessment, the Shenzhou XXI mission will be extended by approximately one additional month. The adjustment is designed to further test and validate key technologies required for long-duration human spaceflight, and to allow the crew to make full use of additional mission supplies and materials transported to the station by the uncrewed Shenzhou XXII spacecraft.

Shenzhou XXII launched in late November 2025 on an uncrewed resupply mission to Tiangong, dispatched after a window damage incident affected the return capsule of the earlier Shenzhou XX mission during its reentry. In addition to delivering critical replacement hardware, the spacecraft carried a large volume of additional mission supplies to support extended operations aboard the station.

Looking ahead, the CMSA confirmed that the Shenzhou XXI crew will continue carrying out their ongoing scientific research and technical tasks for the duration of their extended stay, advancing China’s growing body of knowledge about long-duration human spaceflight and orbital operations.

Just four years after its official launch, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) (HKUST(GZ)) has emerged as a thriving technology and entrepreneurship hub in South China, rapidly attracting a growing community of researchers, innovators and industry investors.

Founded in 2022 in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, the young institution has already fostered more than 120 registered enterprises and over 240 startup incubation projects launched by its current students and academic faculty, according to university president Lionel M. Ni, who shared these latest development milestones with reporters during a recent media event.

These innovative ventures span a diverse range of high-growth, cutting-edge sectors, including advanced artificial intelligence, smart manufacturing, embodied intelligence, biomedicine and new functional materials, Ni confirmed.

The rapid expansion of HKUST(GZ)’s innovation ecosystem has been backed by strong policy support from the Guangzhou municipal government. The 2024 Guangzhou government work report formally earmarked the region surrounding HKUST(GZ) for development as a dedicated innovation zone, laying out clear policy and resource frameworks to support the growth of campus-led startups.

In a key milestone for the hub, the HKUST(GZ) Innovation and Technology Transfer Base commenced full operations in the second half of 2024. The facility initially provides nearly 20,000 square meters of purpose-built incubation space for early-stage ventures founded by campus members, offering specialized infrastructure and support services to move research projects from lab to market.

“We are committed to nurturing innovative enterprises that hold independent intellectual property rights and strong core competitive edges in the global market,” Ni said, adding that the hub will continue to expand its incubation capacity and connect innovators with industry resources to accelerate the translation of academic research into commercial impact.

As a core component of Guangzhou’s strategy to build a regional innovation center, the HKUST(GZ) hub has already demonstrated strong momentum, filling a gap for technology translation and startup support in the Greater Bay Area and attracting growing attention from both domestic and international innovators looking to establish a foothold in one of China’s most dynamic economic regions.

On April 17, 2026, the China Manned Space Agency announced a key milestone in China’s low-Earth orbit space program: the three-person crew of the Shenzhou XXI mission, stationed aboard the country’s operational Tiangong space station, has successfully completed its third extravehicular activity (EVA), more commonly known as a spacewalk.

The outing, which concluded in the early hours of Friday Beijing time, saw two mission members — mission commander Senior Colonel Zhang Lu and spaceflight engineer Major Wu Fei — wrap up approximately five and a half hours of work outside the orbital outpost before re-entering the Wentian science module at 1:36 a.m. local time. The third member of the Shenzhou XXI team, payload specialist Zhang Hongzhang, an academic researcher from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, remained inside the station throughout the EVA to coordinate operations and provide critical in-station support to his extravehicular crewmates.

Working in tandem with ground control teams back on Earth and leveraging the station’s onboard robotic arm for maneuvering support, Zhang and Wu completed all pre-planned tasks scheduled for the spacewalk. These included the installation of protective space debris shields, designed to shield critical station components from micrometeoroid and orbital debris impacts, as well as comprehensive inspections of the condition of EVA support equipment stored outside the station.

This spacewalk marks not only a routine operational milestone for the Shenzhou XXI mission but also a historic first for China’s human spaceflight program. It is the 27th spacewalk conducted by Chinese astronauts since the country began its extravehicular activity program, and it is the seventh spacewalk for mission commander Zhang Lu. At 49 years old, the Hunan Province native now holds the new national record for the most spacewalks completed by any Chinese astronaut. Zhang previously notched four spacewalks during his first mission, the six-month long Shenzhou XV expedition that launched in November 2022, demonstrating his extensive experience and reliability in leading complex extravehicular operations.

In a landmark milestone for global maritime decarbonization and intelligent shipping innovation, the world’s largest fully electric-powered intelligent container vessel departed Wednesday from Ningbo-Zhoushan Port in East China’s Zhejiang Province for its maiden voyage to Jiaxing Port, after formal delivery earlier the same day.

Named *Ning Yuan Dian Kun*, the 740 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) vessel is the first of its kind developed entirely through domestic Chinese expertise, marking a pivotal step forward for the global shipping industry’s transition away from fossil fuel dependence. Built by state-owned China State Shipbuilding Corp, the ship was designed entirely by the Shanghai Merchant Ship Design and Research Institute (SDARI), with its custom all-electric propulsion system supplied by another CSSC subsidiary, the Shanghai Marine Equipment Research Institute (SMERI).

Ma Hongmeng, SDARI’s senior engineer and lead project manager for the intelligent container ship, noted that from initial project approval to final delivery, the vessel’s development demonstrates China’s full lifecycle capacity to build cutting-edge zero-carbon vessels. Defined by pure electric propulsion, autonomous navigation functionality, and industry-leading operational efficiency, *Ning Yuan Dian Kun* signals that China’s coastal container shipping sector has entered a new era of zero-emission, smart operations — a critical foundation for meeting national carbon neutrality targets and driving industry-wide energy transition.

Wu Guodong, a senior engineer at SMERI, emphasized that the institute’s indigenously developed electric propulsion system has passed rigorous open-sea trials, which confirmed its robust reliability, performance advantages, and broad adaptability for maritime use. With all operational performance metrics meeting or exceeding design expectations, the breakthrough from conceptual design to real-world application cements China’s global leadership in pure electric ship power system integration, while laying a solid technical groundwork for the entire shipping industry’s shift toward greener, carbon-neutral operations.

Measuring 127.8 meters long and 21.6 meters wide, *Ning Yuan Dian Kun* was custom-built for Ningbo Ocean Shipping Co, and will operate permanently on the coastal trade route between Ningbo and Jiaxing. To accommodate the unique technical requirements of this new-generation intelligent vessel, the Ningbo Maritime Safety Administration has assembled a dedicated specialized service team to provide end-to-end support. The team will conduct continuous performance tracking and precise technical assessments across every stage of the vessel’s lifecycle — from initial design and construction through ongoing navigation — to ensure full understanding of the ship’s unique technical profile and effective mitigation of operational risks.

Powered by 10 container-integrated power units with a total energy storage capacity of 19,600 kilowatt-hours, the vessel delivers fully zero-emission, near-silent operation across its entire voyage, perfectly aligned with the practical demands of coastal container transport, according to Ma.

Wang Ting, captain of *Ning Yuan Dian Kun*, confirmed the transformative impact of the fully electric design compared to traditional fossil fuel-powered vessels. “The most striking difference is the lack of noise. On old fuel ships, the engine room was constantly filled with the roar of the main engine, but now voyages are almost completely silent,” Wang explained. “This creates a far more comfortable working environment that lets the crew focus better on navigation — that’s a huge improvement brought by green energy.”

Wang added that electric propulsion also delivers major operational advantages: electric motors produce linear, instantaneous torque output, making acceleration and deceleration smooth, highly responsive, and virtually free of lag, which simplifies vessel handling. However, the new technology also brings new requirements for crew, who must now master efficient energy management, closely monitor power consumption, and plan voyage speeds more intentionally to optimize battery use.

Fitted with two permanent magnet synchronous propulsion motors, *Ning Yuan Dian Kun* cuts annual carbon emissions by 1,462 tons compared to an equivalent fossil fuel-powered vessel, while eliminating all emissions of sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and fine particulate matter entirely. “This lets us achieve full-process zero pollution, from navigation and berthing to cargo loading and unloading,” Ma noted.

For Ningbo Ocean Shipping Co, the launch of *Ning Yuan Dian Kun* builds on an existing commitment to green fleet transformation. The company already operates 32 green, energy-efficient vessels, accounting for 57% of its owned fleet, meaning a large-scale green fleet is already taking shape at the firm.

Chen Xiaofeng, chairman of Ningbo Ocean Shipping Co, said the company expects *Ning Yuan Dian Kun* to deliver breakthroughs in key zero-carbon shipping technologies. “Our goal is to build China’s first fully operational demonstration model for seagoing fully electric vessels, advancing the expansion of pure electric technology from inland waterways to coastal maritime transport,” Chen explained. “We aim to develop a complete, replicable technical and operational framework for zero-carbon shipping that can be adopted across the industry.”

As energy infrastructure operators around the world increasingly turn to automation to boost safety and efficiency, a leading Chinese power utility based in southern China’s Guangdong province is scaling up research and deployment of intelligent robots designed to handle high-stakes grid operations. Guangdong Power Grid Co., a regional subsidiary of China Southern Power Grid Co., has been actively developing and training a fleet of specialized robotic systems to take on core tasks across its vast power network, with some solutions already active in daily operations.

The company’s in-house power robotics laboratory centers its research on cutting-edge capabilities that allow robots to operate reliably in the challenging, variable conditions common to power grid work. Key areas of innovation include multi-modal environmental perception, fully autonomous navigation and dynamic obstacle avoidance, adaptive operation in complex terrain and weather, and AI-powered accurate identification of hidden equipment defects that could threaten grid stability.

Automated systems are already delivering measurable performance gains across the company’s operations. To date, Guangdong Power Grid has deployed more than 10,000 power inspection drones across its service area. These unmanned systems complete roughly 500,000 independent inspection flight missions every year, and the company records that their inspection efficiency is 2.5 times higher than traditional manual inspection methods.

Recent upgrades to drone operations have unlocked even greater time savings, driven by the integration of new digital tools. Earlier this year, the company’s Jiangmen Power Supply Bureau rolled out a new AI-powered digital employee system that acts as a centralized “super brain” for the bureau’s drone fleet. According to Sun Tiancheng, a technician with the Jiangmen branch, the digital tool automatically generates customized flight plans and optimizes inspection routes in real time. This technological upgrade has cut pre-flight preparation time dramatically, from an average of 30 minutes per mission down to just one minute, streamlining workflows and allowing inspectors to respond faster to potential grid issues.

China has marked a new milestone in commercial space innovation with its Qingzhou (Light Ship) robotic cargo spacecraft prototype successfully completing a series of critical in-orbit tests, according to its developer. The Innovation Academy for Microsatellites at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, based in Shanghai, announced in an April 16 press release that after passing all initial flight control evaluations, the prototype has been maneuvered to a 600-kilometer-altitude higher orbit, where it will now enter an extended long-term operation phase to continue validating core technologies, assess long-duration operational stability, and carry out additional experimental assignments.

Launched on March 30 from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China aboard a Kinetica 2 rocket, the 4.2-metric ton single-section prototype has delivered all satisfactory test results, the academy confirmed. A number of cutting-edge new technologies integrated into the vessel have performed far better than expected in the harsh space environment: foldable ultra-thin flexible monocrystalline silicon solar cells, which cost just one-tenth of traditional spacecraft solar cells, have operated flawlessly throughout the testing period. The newly developed air-to-space communication module has also exceeded performance expectations, achieving stable data transmission across distances of more than 450 kilometers. In addition, 3D-printed components and parts constructed from advanced new lightweight materials have maintained consistent, stable operation in orbit with no reported anomalies.

The prototype’s standardized payload platform comes equipped with a convenient “plug-and-play” function for cargo and experimental payloads, which has already supported the testing of six separate emerging space technologies, including active vibration isolation systems and in-orbit metal manufacturing. On April 2 and 3, the Qingzhou prototype successfully completed two major mission milestones: it deployed two small secondary satellites, and conducted a series of long-distance approach and departure coordination tests with the New March 01 satellite, accumulating valuable data for future autonomous space rendezvous technologies.

According to project researchers, data gathered from the prototype’s operation will not only provide critical technical support for the full-scale development of the operational Qingzhou cargo spacecraft fleet, but also chart a practical, cost-effective path for future low-cost commercial space activities and international space cooperation.

Full technical specifications released by the academy show that the operational Qingzhou cargo vessel will have a total cargo stowage volume of 9 cubic meters, with a four-tier rack system featuring 40 standardized slots that can flexibly accommodate a wide range of cargo types, from daily crew supplies to large scientific experiment equipment. This modular design is tailored to meet the diverse logistical resupply needs of China’s Tiangong space station, supporting a wide range of mission requirements. To further streamline cargo operations, the Qingzhou is equipped with an intelligent onboard cargo management system that enables automatic identification, real-time tracing, and smart sorting of all stored goods. Astronauts can quickly locate required items via voice command, drastically cutting down the time spent on cargo retrieval and reducing the extra workload of crew members during their in-orbit missions.

Prior to the development of Qingzhou, China’s only operational cargo spacecraft for Tiangong resupply missions was the larger Tianzhou series, developed and built by the China Academy of Space Technology. To date, nine Tianzhou vessels have been launched, with eight of them successfully delivering fuel, supplies, and experiment equipment to the Tiangong space station, supporting the continuous operation of China’s permanent outpost in low Earth orbit.