Three Departments Deploy Comprehensive Application Pilot Program for Hydrogen Energy

On March 16, according to the official website of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Finance, and the National Development and Reform Commission issued the “Notice on Conducting Pilot Work for Comprehensive Hydrogen Energy Applications” (hereinafter referred to as the “Notice”). The notice clarifies that city clusters will serve as pilot entities, using large-scale multi-scenario applications to reduce hydrogen costs, promote high-quality development of the hydrogen industry, and support the comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development.

It is understood that the three departments will select city clusters with strong industrial foundations, rich application scenarios, robust hydrogen resource guarantees, and complete industrial chains through a “list-revealing” approach to pioneer comprehensive hydrogen energy application pilots. They will scientifically, orderly, and actively explore pathways for commercializing hydrogen energy, improve industry development policy environments, and promote integrated development of the entire hydrogen “production, storage, transportation, and utilization” industry chain.

The “Notice” specifies that by 2030, hydrogen in city clusters will achieve large-scale application across multiple fields, with the average terminal hydrogen price dropping below 25 yuan per kilogram, aiming for around 15 yuan per kilogram in some advantageous regions; the national fuel cell vehicle fleet will double compared to 2025, striving to reach 100,000 vehicles. Through expanded application scale, breakthroughs in hydrogen application technologies, processes, and equipment will be driven, enabling iterative upgrades of fuel cells, electrolyzers, storage and transportation devices, and materials. This will help hydrogen become a new economic growth point and support the full green transformation of economic and social development.

An official from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology stated that China’s hydrogen energy industry has achieved a “from zero to one” breakthrough. By the end of 2025, cumulative sales of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles will approach 40,000 units, with the number of hydrogen refueling stations and capacity ranking first globally, and green hydrogen production capacity reaching about 250,000 tons per year.

Regarding pilot tasks, the “Notice” proposes that each city cluster should prioritize pilot applications such as fuel cell vehicles, green ammonia and methanol, hydrogen-based chemical raw materials substitution, hydrogen metallurgy, and hydrogen-blended combustion, actively exploring innovative hydrogen energy application scenarios. The goal is to form a comprehensive hydrogen application ecosystem consisting of “one general fuel cell vehicle scenario + N industrial application scenarios + X innovative application scenarios.”

In terms of green ammonia and methanol, the focus is on improving the technical and economic aspects of green ammonia and expanding downstream consumption, through innovative production technologies and processes, promoting scaled production and application. It encourages integrated construction of renewable energy-based hydrogen production projects and decentralized hydrogen production suited to local conditions. Stable channels for downstream consumption of green synthesized ammonia, green methanol, and other products should be established. Construction of coal-based ammonia projects under the guise of green ammonia is strictly prohibited.

For hydrogen-based chemical raw material substitution, the focus is on promoting carbon reduction in key hydrogen-consuming industries such as refining and coal chemical industries. It involves scientifically developing renewable energy-based hydrogen projects to gradually replace hydrogen produced from coal, natural gas, and other fossil fuels. Infrastructure for hydrogen storage and transportation is encouraged.

In hydrogen metallurgy, the emphasis is on shifting the steel industry from high-carbon to low-carbon processes, utilizing nearby industrial by-product hydrogen and renewable energy-based hydrogen to build low-carbon metallurgical facilities that use hydrogen-rich/pure hydrogen gases as reducing agents. Stable downstream channels for low-carbon steel and related products should be established.

(Source: Futures Daily)