Plan to develop hydrogen industry published

The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the National Energy Administration (NEA), unveiled the country’s first medium- to long-term plan (2021-35) to promote high-quality development of the hydrogen industry. It is part of China’s larger drive to build a clean, safe and efficient energy system. China will seek to have around 50,000 hydrogen-fueled vehicles and a number of hydrogen fueling stations by 2025. By then, the country aims to produce 100,000 to 200,000 metric tons of hydrogen generated from renewable energy sources a year, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 1 million to 2 million tons a year. A relatively complete hydrogen industry technology innovation system as well as a clean energy-based hydrogen production and supply system will be formed by 2030, which will help in meeting the country's carbon peak goal. By 2035, the share of hydrogen generated from renewable energy resources in the final energy consumption will be significantly expanded.

Wang Xiang, Deputy Director of the Department of Innovation and High-Tech Development at the NDRC, said development of the hydrogen industry will help the energy industry to transition to a green and low-carbon future. Ouyang Minggao, Academician at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Professor at Tsinghua University, said the long-awaited plan will play an important role in promoting the high-quality development of the hydrogen industry in China. Ouyang said China needs to make break-throughs in major fields, including hydrogen fuel cells and storage systems. More efforts should also be made to build a hydrogen innovation platform, carry out research on core technologies, cultivate more talent and promote international cooperation and exchanges.

Compared to unstable energy sources like wind turbines and photovoltaic solar panels, hydrogen will provide a stable supply of power, Lin Boqiang, Dean of the China Institute for Studies in Energy Policy at Xiamen University, said, as reported by the China Daily.