The Fourth International workshop of Energy Conversion (IWEC2011), organized by Energy Conversion Research Center of Doshisha University of Japan, was successfully held in Kyoto, Japan, November, 28-30, 2011. Professor  Xinrong Zhang from the Deptartment of Energy and Resources Engineering was co-chairman of the workshop.

The world energy situation has become critical and new issues are arising in the sector of energy conversion. Many of these issues are strictly related to thermal problems and the possibility to solve these problems efficiently is very often related to the new developments in experimental and computational techniques. Thermal problems are also rising in new areas of research, such as bioengineering and nanotechnology, where new techniques, numerical models and solution methods need to be developed.

The IWEC2011 brought together over 40 researchers, scientists, and practitioners from academia, research institutions and industry to exchange experiences, disseminate up-to-date information, and explore new opportunities in energy conversion. The topics during the IWEC covered renewable energy storage and transportation, smart grid, hydrogen technology, energy conversion efficiency, efficient use of natural gas and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accidents and others. Visits to energy enterprises and R&D centers including the Daihatsu Diesel, Osaka Gas, and Kyosera Solar Energy Center were also arranged.

Three Japan-China Joint Seminars of Energy Conversion were held in Doshisha University in 2007, Peking University in 2008, and Doshisha University in 2009, respectively, with intention of promoting research and development of high-efficient energy conversion technologies between Japan and China.