Highlights from China’s Medium and Long-Term Plan for the Development of the Hydrogen Energy Industry

Highlights from China’s Medium and Long-Term Plan for the Development of the Hydrogen Energy Industry

BRIQ Editorial Team

TODAY'S WORLD IS EXPERIENCING GREAT improve energy technologies to upgrade the

changes that have not been seen in a century. A industry; to optimize energy systems for the

new stage of technological and industrial reform is benefit of the energy sector.

on the horizon. One of the most important branc- “One cooperation” refers to comprehensive

hes of this reform is sustainable energy. Hydrogen cooperation with other countries to realize

energy is gradually becoming one of the most im- energy security in an open environment. (The

portant carriers of global energy transformation State Council Information Office of the People’s

and sustainable development. This summary refle- Republic of China, 2020)

cts China’s medium and long term plan for develo- “Carbon peak, Carbon neutrality” ping the energy industry. “Carbon peak, Carbon neutrality” refers

Guiding Ideology and Principles to the transformation goals from carbon-

“Four Revolutions, One Cooperation” based, unsustainable development models

to an ecological civilization. By 2025, China

“Four Revolutions, One Cooperation” is a aims to gradually increase the clean energy

term of strategy for energy security. It is based on consumption rate to 20 percent. This rate

instructions from General Secretary Xi Jinping is planned to be increased to 25 percent by

at the 18th National Congress of the Communist 2030. By 2060, the country’s non-fossil energy

Party of China in 2012. consumption is expected to reach 80 percent.

The four revolutions are as follows: China's carbon dioxide emission is expected

To improve energy consumption structure by to stabilize and decline by 2030. By 2060, China

containing unnecessary consumption; to build plans to establish a green, low-carbon, circular

a more diversified energy supply structure; to economy and eventually become carbon

72 How to cite: Highlights from China’s medium and long-term plan for the development of the hydrogen

energy industry. (2022). Belt & Road Initiative Quarterly (BRIQ), 3(3), 72-74.

April 8, 2022, China Center for International Economic Exchanges – UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) Hydrogen Energy Industry Summit Forum. (China Daily, 2022China Daily (2022). The source article does not provide a separate full bibliographic entry for this citation.)

neutral. (The Communist Party of China • To establish a low-carbon transportation

Central Committee and the State Council, system;

2021) • To develop a circular economy to increase

the efficiency of resource use; “1+N” Policy" • To promote green and low-carbon

China’s “1+N” climate policy concisely technological innovation;

describes its “carbon peak and carbon • To develop green finance and expand the

neutrality” goals and necessary measures. The capital support;

description’s “1” refers to “2030, the declivity of • To publicize relevant economic policies and

carbon emission” and “2060, carbon neutrality” reforms;

goals, where “N” stands for the measures that • To establish a formal carbon trading

will be taken before 2030. market;

With the policy (1+N), the aim is to lead • To implement nature-based solutions.

reforms in the following ten areas: (Zhenhua, 2020Zhenhua (2020). The source article does not provide a separate full bibliographic entry for this citation.)

• To optimize the energy production system Strategic View of the Hydrogen Energy and establish a clean, safe, and efficient energy

system based on new energy sources; “The hydrogen energy industry is emerging

• To optimize production, curbing reckless with strategic importance. It is one of the

development of high energy-consuming and key development directions of the industry.”

high-emission industries; (National Development and Reform Commission,

• To promote the construction of energy- 2022)

saving and low-carbon buildings and China sees hydrogen energy as an important

infrastructure; part of the future national energy system and

a necessity to achieve “carbon peak, carbon million tons, of which about 12 million tons meet

neutrality” goals, aiming to utilize clean energy in the industrial hydrogen quality standard. There are

major fields of energy consumption and reduce more than 300 Industrial enterprises within the

the overall carbon emission to close to zero. By whole industrial chain, concentrated in the Yangtze

2025, hydrogen production from renewable energy River Delta, Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao

is estimated to reach 100,000-200,000 tons per Bay Area, Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei. However,

year, which will reduce carbon dioxide emissions China's hydrogen energy industry is generally

by 1-2 million tons per year. It is also predicted that still in the early stages of development. (National

the number of fuel cell vehicles will reach 50,000 Development and Reform Commission, 2022)

by 2025. (National Development and Reform To further analyze the development structure,

Commission, 2022) we have chosen Shanghai as an example of the

practice and development of the hydrogen energy

Some of the Exemplary Application Plans industry. We present the report titled “Practice

and development of hydrogen energy industry in

In mining areas, ports, industrial parks, and Shanghai”, published by the Expert Committee of

other areas with high operation intensity, the aim is the Shanghai Energy Conservation Commission.

to carry out demonstration operations of hydrogen

fuel cell trucks. Fuel cells will be used in public References

service fields, including urban buses, logistics The State Council Information Office of the People’s

distribution vehicles, and sanitation vehicles. Republic of China. (2020). Full Text: Energy in

Areas with rich renewable energy resources China’s New Era. Retrieved from http://www.scio.

gov.cn/zfbps/32832/Document/1695135/1695135. and areas with high demand for hydrogen energy htm will be centralized as renewable energy and The Communist Party of China Central Committee and hydrogen production stations. These centers will the State Council. (2021). China maps path to carbon

be supported and take an exemplary role for other peak, neutrality under new development philosophy.

similar enterprises. Retrieved from

The application of fuel cell systems for http://english.www.gov.cn/policies/

communication base stations will be encouraged. latestreleases/202110/24/content_

There will be new communication base stations WS61755fe9c6d0df57f98e3bed.html

constructed with standby fuel cell systems. Some National Development and Reform Commission.

(2022). Medium and Long-Term Plan for the of the existing base stations will use fuel cell power Development of Hydrogen Energy Industry. 氢能 generators. Gradually the application of hydrogen 产业发展中长期规划 (2021-2035年). Retrieved

fuel cells will be expanded. The application from http://www.gov.cn/

scope of hydrogen fuel cells is expected to cover xinwen/2022-03/24/5680975/

hospitals, schools, commercial centers, industrial files/6b388f7c324a4b1db0b30dc6f52b7e02.pdf

zones, mining enterprises and more (National Zhenhua, X. (2021). China’s Climate Special Envoy

Development and Reform Commission, 2022). Speaks on Accelerating Low-Carbon Innovation

Towards Carbon Peak and Neutrality. Retrieved from

About the Current Situation https://www.ourhkfoundation.org.hk/en/

event/1606/china-masters-series/our-hong-kong-

China is the largest hydrogen producer globally, foundation-and-hkust-jointly-present-china-

with an annual hydrogen production of about 33 masters