Shengnian Xu (A’nian) is a Research Associate of the WRI Sustainable Investment Program.  He focuses on the potential analysis of renewable energy resources, policy development, and bridging renewable energy investment to green BRI countries.  

After the post-doctoral position in the Academy of Mathematics and System Science(AMSS),  he became interested in quantitative policy planning for addressing climate change challenges. Before joining WRI,   Shengnian worked with Global Environmental Insitute as project manager of energy and climate change group. He has trained low-carbon experts across China to conduct data-based quantitative low-carbon policy development for a long time. In recent years, he has been collaborating with teams from China and Southeast Asia countries to assess the potential of solar and biomass resources, as well as their contribution to the NDC targets.

He believes that analysis and research can better facilitate government policy and planning and help achieve an equitable energy transition and renewable energy development for all.

Shengnian holds B.S. and Ph.D. degree in astrophysics from the University of Science and Technology of China. He was the visiting scholar of the astronomy department of the University of Michigan, and he explored the cosmic coevolution of supermassive black holes and galaxies.