NEWS & EVENTS

The Department is delighted to announce that Prof. Louis Wong, his PhD student Liu Zihan, and Prof. Chang Su-Chin have won the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) Geotechnical Paper Award 2026 for their paper:

 

Liu, Z., Wong, L.N.Y. and Chang, S-C. (2024). “Experimental investigation of major rocks in Hong Kong as potential sensible thermal energy storage medium.” Engineering Geology, 343, 107763.

 

The HKIE Geotechnical Paper Award is a biennial award organised by the HKIE Geotechnical Division to recognise high-quality publications that contribute to the advancement of geotechnical practice and technology. The award considers geotechnical papers published in Hong Kong, as well as papers by Hong Kong-based authors published internationally, within the preceding five years.

 

The prize presentation ceremony was held during the HKIE Geotechnical Division 46th Annual Seminar on 12 May 2026. Prof. Wong and Liu Zihan were presented with a trophy and individual certificates. Following the presentation, Liu Zihan delivered a 10-minute presentation highlighting the key findings of the winning paper.

 

The five-member Assessment Board of the HKIE Geotechnical Division Committee commended the paper with the following citation:

“For an outstanding contribution to the field of energy geotechnics, this paper presents a comprehensive experimental characterisation of 15 rock types from Hong Kong as potential sensible thermal energy storage media. Through systematic measurements of thermophysical and mechanical properties up to 1000 °C, coupled with detailed mineralogical and chemical analyses, the work establishes a robust framework for selecting locally sourced rocks for high-temperature thermal energy storage. The identification of basalt as an optimal candidate, with clear guidance on maximum working temperatures (e.g. 850 °C for basalt), offers a practical and sustainable pathway for integrating rock-based storage systems into renewable energy infrastructure. The paper provides a rigorous and comprehensive evaluation that has already become a foundational reference for both researchers and practitioners.”

 

The award recognises the team’s significant contribution to energy geotechnics and the development of sustainable solutions for renewable energy infrastructure. Their study provides important scientific and practical guidance on the use of locally sourced rocks in Hong Kong as sensible thermal energy storage media.

 

The Department warmly congratulates Prof. Wong, Liu Zihan and Prof. Chang on this outstanding achievement.