Chinese Government Work Report Highlights Acceleration of Hydrogen Energy Development

The Chinese government work report for this year has put forth plans to expedite the development of hydrogen energy, marking the first time this cutting-edge industry has been mentioned in the report.

The inclusion of the hydrogen energy sector in the 2024 Government Work Report signifies the acceptance and recognition of its position and role in the restructuring of the energy system. As a clean energy source, hydrogen energy is expected to play a significant role in the future.

According to a recent document released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and other authorities, China aims for the output value from green factories to exceed 40% of its manufacturing sector by 2030. The country has outlined directions for the growth of industries such as hydrogen energy, energy storage, biological manufacturing, and carbon capture, utilization, and storage, aligning with its dual carbon goals.

China has been actively implementing policies to support the expansion of the hydrogen energy sector. As of October last year, more than 900 related policies had been issued, including 150 at the national level, according to data from The Orange Group, a hydrogen energy-focused research institute. Most of China's 31 provincial-level regions have already released industrial schemes related to hydrogen energy.

China has achieved a fundamental mastery of major hydrogen-related technologies and manufacturing processes, including preparation, storage, transportation, and refueling, as stated by the executive in charge of the technology department at China's National Energy Administration last year. In 2022, China became the world's largest hydrogen producer, producing over 35 million tons of hydrogen.

The country also leads in the sales of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, with over 5,790 units sold in China last year, representing a 72% increase compared to the previous year, according to data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

However, despite these achievements, the NEA executive highlighted that China's hydrogen energy sector is still in its early stages of development, and its growth potential requires further exploration.