The State Key Laboratory of Power System Operation and Control, approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology as one of the first 20 benchmark national key laboratories, was established in May 2022, with its foundation at Tsinghua University. It was optimized and restructured based on the original National Key Laboratory of Power System and Large-scale Power Generation Equipment Safety Control and Simulation. The latter was approved by the National Planning Commission in 1989, passed national acceptance on October 17, 1995, and officially opened to the public. Founded by Prof Gao Jingde, former president of Tsinghua University, it was one of the first national key laboratories in the field of electrical engineering in China. Under the leadership of Prof Qiang Lu, Prof Yingduo Han, and Prof Weidou Ni, the laboratory has undergone 30 years of development and innovation, achieving first place once and excellence twice in national key laboratory assessments organized by the Ministry of Science and Technology. It relies on disciplines such as electrical engineering and part of power engineering at Tsinghua University, which have consistently ranked first or A+ in multiple discipline assessments.

The laboratory will focus on the national energy revolution strategy, break through the basic theory of safe operation of new power systems, and address key technological bottlenecks such as power energy basic materials and devices, power transmission and power supply major equipment. It will concentrate on tackling three major scientific and technological issues: safe control and economic operation of new power systems, major equipment for power conversion and transmission, and basic materials and power devices for power energy. The laboratory aims to achieve national independence and controllability in power energy system control software, major equipment, and core devices, forming a world-class team of power energy scientists to lead basic research in power energy and drive industry development, thereby providing fundamental theoretical and core technological support for achieving the national carbon neutrality goal.

Through in-depth integration with the industry, such as by establishing joint research institutes with leading technology enterprises, the laboratory has formed collaborations like the "Tsinghua University-State Grid Joint Research Institute for Next-Generation Power Systems," the "Tsinghua University-China Three Gorges Group Co., Ltd. Energy Power New Technology Joint Research Institute," and the "Tsinghua University-China Southern Power Grid Co., Ltd. Digital Power Grid Joint Research Institute." The laboratory will cooperate with key enterprises in the industry to establish national heavy-duty branch offices and industrialization bases, jointly tackle major needs and key technologies, and promote the transformation and application of research achievements.

With strong support from Tsinghua University, the laboratory will continue to serve the major national needs, aim at the forefront of international science and technology, and focus on building three bases for scientific research, talent cultivation, and academic exchange, making solid contributions to the construction of a new type of power system dominated by new energy sources.