Cheng received a BEng (Honours) degree in renewable energy systems from ANU in December 2017.  His Honours thesis investigated the feasibility of building excess PV and wind farms, as well as co-located pumped hydro energy storage facilities, in northwest China. By transmitting power across the country through high voltage DC transmission, the national electric grid is expected to achieve 100% renewable energy supply with a cost that is no higher than the current average wholesale electricity price in China.

Cheng is currently working on the charging characteristics of EV and its impact on the National Electricity Market of Australia.