A "zero carbon" engineer at work. [Photo by Guo Yang/people.com.cn]

A team of dedicated "zero carbon" engineers, led by Lai Hanbin from the State Grid Hangzhou Power Supply Company, is propelling the Hangzhou Asian Games towards becoming the first carbon-neutral Asian Games ever.

Lai, stationed at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Stadium, the Games' main venue, exemplifies the green and low-carbon ethos of the event.

Harnessing renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power transmitted through ultra-high power transmission lines from the northwest, the Games is striving to power all Hangzhou venues sustainably.

Lai and his fellow engineers play a crucial role in this endeavor, meticulously calculating energy consumption, promoting green electricity trading, and leveraging the innovative digital platform they've developed – the "Dual Carbon Brain", which optimizes energy usage and emissions reduction strategies, ensuring the Games leave the smallest carbon footprint possible.

A "zero carbon" engineer at work. [Photo by Guo Yang/people.com.cn]

As a "zero carbon" engineer, Lai actively monitors daily energy consumption at the venue, conducting regular analyses and providing optimized energy solutions. He proudly represents a growing cohort of over a dozen engineers in Hangzhou committed to this cause.

For Lai, this role not only serves to guarantee a reliable power supply, but also spearhead energy-saving and carbon emission reduction initiatives. He sees this as a testament to the nation's and society's unwavering commitment to energy efficiency and carbon reduction and expects substantial advancements in this field.

The Hangzhou Asian Games has already achieved impressive results in green electricity trading, amounting to 621 million kilowatt-hours, equivalent to saving 76,000 metric tons of standard coal. From March until the end of this year, 65 Asian Games venues and office spaces in Zhejiang province will be powered by green electricity. Embracing the vision of an environmentally-conscious sporting event, the Hangzhou Asian Games organizers aim to make history by hosting the first-ever carbon-neutral Asian Games.