China’s hydrogen energy industry accelerates as country races towards carbon neutral goal
- Cities across China have released ambitious hydrogen energy blueprints recently and investment in the sector is growing
- Authorities’ tolerance for trial and error and China’s huge market potential are key factors in its rapid development
Authorities’ tolerance for trial and error and China’s huge market potential are key factors in its world-leading hydrogen energy development, according to observers.
In 2016, key components and materials for hydrogen fuel cell electric cars in China relied on imports, and most domestic products were only in the R&D stage, according to Li Wei, vice general manager of the China Automotive Technology & Research Centre.
But the industry has advanced significantly since then, establishing a hydrogen energy industry chain, strengthening production of core components and materials for fuel cells, and scaling production to lower costs, said Li, who was speaking at the UNDP Hydrogen Industry Conference 2021 in Foshan last week.
“The price of hydrogen has dropped from 80 yuan per kilogram to 40 yuan and is expected to be within 25 yuan in the long run,” he said.
