The global energy landscape is undergoing profound transformation, and natural gas, as a clean, low-carbon energy source, is playing an increasingly prominent role in the energy transition and in ensuring energy security. As volatility in international natural gas markets intensifies and renewable energy is increasingly integrated into power grids on a large scale, the strategic role of gas storage and peak-shaving facilities has evolved from that of traditional seasonal peak-shaving tools into a cornerstone of national energy security and a critical support for the emerging power system. To advance the development of a new energy system under the 15th Five-Year Plan in a well-planned and scientifically sound manner and accelerate the expansion of natural gas storage capacity, the Sixth China International UGS Academic Conference & International Symposium on Comprehensive Utilization of Underground Space is scheduled to be held in Chongqing from December 9 to 11, 2026.

The theme of this year’s conference is “Innovation-Driven Development, Digital and Intelligent Empowerment, and Multi-Dimensional Integration — Building a Safe, Efficient, and Green Ecosystem for Gas Storage.” The conference will bring together academicians, experts, and industry representatives from China and abroad in the field of underground gas storage (UGS) to share the latest advances and examine the evolving strategic role of UGS—from a traditional facility for seasonal peak shaving to a cornerstone of national energy security, an important pillar of the new energy system, and a platform for the development of deep underground space. It will focus on cutting-edge technologies in hydrogen and energy storage, the industrial internet, and smart UGS; explore integrated development approaches, including hydrogen blending, multi-energy complementarity, and coordinated UGS development and injection and withdrawal operations; and tackle key challenges in developing UGS facilities in complex geological settings, efficiently expanding the capacity of reservoir-type UGS facilities and bringing them up to design capacity, transforming UGS operations through digitalization and intelligent technologies, and achieving green and low-carbon operations. The conference will also promote international exchange and cooperation, provide intellectual support for the development of the new energy system and the transition toward the “Dual Carbon” goals, contribute to the high-quality development of the UGS industry under the 15th Five-Year Plan, and support the development of China into a strong energy nation and the implementation of the national energy security strategy.