ICARE focuses on six research directions in the field of clean and renewable energy: solar energy, wind energy, biomass energy, geothermal energy, energy efficiency and hydrogen energy & energy storage. Additionally, ICARE collaborates with schools, enterprises and government departments to organize and apply for international research cooperation projects, offer consultation services, and host high-level international conferences and forums. ICARE also invites renowned experts from the clean and renewable energy industry to facilitate communication and provides internship opportunities for master-doctoral students.

The solar energy direction primarily focuses on photovoltaic power generation, solar thermal utilization and photocatalytic hydrogen production. The wind energy direction is mainly concerned with wind energy prediction, blades design and optimization, installation, operation and maintenance, blade materials, and design. Biomass energy focuses on efficient thermal conversion technology and biological and chemical conversion and utilization technology. Geothermal energy mainly focuses on ground source heat pumps and efficient thermal management. The energy efficiency direction is mainly concerned with building energy-saving, power grid system efficiency optimization, industrial process energy saving, and transportation energy saving. Lastly, the direction of hydrogen and energy storage mainly focuses on hydrogen energy preparation, storage, and transportation, as well as new energy storage technology.

At present, ICARE has invited renowned professors and scholars from all over the world in the field of clean and renewable energy to come to Huazhong University of Science and Technology. They gave lectures and shared cutting-edge scientific knowledge and practical experience, such as the distinguished guests from the Power Safety Regulation Department of the National Energy Administration of China,  the foreign academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and a member of the National Academy of Engineering of the United States, and the member of the National Academy of Engineering of the United States.

Officials from domestic and foreign government, Such us the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China, the European Union, Italy, Belgium, French Diplomatic Corps in China, representatives from domestic and foreign universities, research institutions and industry including National Technical University of Athens, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, the French “Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)”, Beijing Institute of Aeronautical Materials and Atlas Copco, visited the Institute for exchanges.

ICARE collaborates extensively with the government and enterprises to build a platform for industry-education-research cooperation and exchange.