From September 26 to November 30, 2024, the 7th National Competition in Science & Technology on Renewable Energy for College Students (China CRRC Cup) was successfully hosted by the China Renewable Energy Society. A total of 2,013 entries were submitted by 305 universities and colleges nationwide. After formal review, 1,615 submissions met the competition’s requirements. Ultimately, 614 entries were shortlisted, including 555 scientific and technological projects and 59 social practice research works. In total, 289 teams advanced to the final round (with an award rate of 18%), and 272 teams won third prizes (with a 38% award rate). Long Hai, a student from our institute, contributed to the project titled “Optimized Design of a Multi-Market Trading Mechanism Considering the Grid Connection of Wind and Solar Energy,” which received a third prize.

The team focused on optimizing electricity market trading mechanisms in the context of large-scale renewable energy integration. As the share of wind and solar power continues to grow, traditional electricity market models face challenges due to their intermittent and variable nature. The study first established a spatio-temporal model of wind and solar resources, analyzed their alignment with electricity demand, and identified the system’s flexibility needs across various timescales.

Based on this, the researchers designed a multi-level market framework—including day-ahead, real-time, and auxiliary service markets—and introduced innovative trading products such as flexible electricity contracts and green power certificates. A stochastic optimization model was developed to handle uncertainties, proposing a pricing and clearing mechanism adapted to high renewable penetration, effectively balancing economic efficiency and system reliability. Furthermore, the team designed a distributed trading platform based on blockchain to lower market entry barriers and promote the participation of decentralized energy sources. The research offers theoretical support and practical strategies for building electricity markets suited to high levels of renewable integration.