Zhang Cheng
Research Associate, Energy Program, Sustainable Transition Center, WRI China
Mr. Cheng Zhang is Research Associate of Energy Program, Sustainable Transition Center, WRI China, responsible for prioritizing and enhancing the sustainable investment and development of Renewable Energy (RE) in the southern world, for example, Africa. The focus is given to help target countries accelerate energy accessibility and transition to clean energy, not limited to market and policy feasibility studies, recommendations to the policy makers, innovative financial instruments for investors, and demonstration of grounding RE solutions.
Mr. Zhang has more than 15 years’ professional experience in renewable energy sector with a broad knowledge and expertise in RE project development and management, policy research and market exploitation, as well as project financing. Prior to WRI, he used to work for Trina Solar as European Project Manager, where he was responsible for the development, financing, management and maintenance of more than 10 MWp solar PV plants in Italy. He also managed rooftop projects and completed the medium-short term strategic planning for developing solar PV in Southern and Eastern European, when he acted as Market Director of CECEP Solar Energy Technology Co., Ltd. Apart from this, he also served as Technology Improvement (TI) Manager of GEF/WB China Renewable Energy Development Project Management office. This international bilateral cooperation program contributed to the commercialization and scaling-up of RE technology, especially solar and wind, in China.
Mr. Cheng Zhang earned a Master’s degree in Energy Science from Utrecht University, the Netherlands and BA from Dalian University of Foreign Languages. He is strongly committed to a sustainable world for all, led by advanced technology and rooted in human culture.