Hydrogen energy is divided into "grey hydrogen", "blue hydrogen" and "green hydrogen"
Hydrogen energy is a secondary energy source. The main preparation methods include coal-to-hydrogen and natural gas. Hydrogen production, methanol hydrogen production, industrial by-product hydrogen production, refinery gas hydrogen production, coke oven gas hydrogen production, etc. Hydrogen energy can be divided into "gray hydrogen", "blue hydrogen" and "green hydrogen" according to the source of production. Gray hydrogen is derived from fossil fuels and is low-cost, but has high carbon emissions. Blue hydrogen is also derived from fossil fuels, but uses advanced technologies such as carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), resulting in smaller carbon emissions. Green hydrogen is hydrogen produced using renewable energy sources (solar energy, wind energy, etc.). The preparation process has no carbon emissions, but the cost is high.
China's hydrogen production reached 33.42 million tons
According to data from the China Coal Industry Association, China's hydrogen production gradually increased from 2017 to 2021. Hydrogen production in 2021 will be approximately 33.42 million tons, which is higher than that in 2020. The annual growth rate is 33.68%.
China’s demand for hydrogen energy will surge after 2030
According to predictions from the China Hydrogen Energy Alliance, China’s demand for hydrogen energy will continue to increase after 2020, especially after 2030. To achieve the goal of "carbon neutrality and carbon peaking", the demand for hydrogen energy will increase significantly. By 2060, China's annual hydrogen energy demand will exceed 130 million tons.
The number of hydrogenation stations exceeds 270
Fuel cell vehicles are one of the main application areas of hydrogen energy, and hydrogenation stations are an important infrastructure that provides hydrogen to hydrogen energy vehicles. As the scale of China's new energy vehicle industry grows, the demand for hydrogen refueling stations increases, and the number of hydrogen refueling stations in China also increases year by year. As of June 2022, the number of hydrogen refueling stations in China will exceed 270, an increase of more than 10 times compared with the number of hydrogen refueling stations in 2018.
Interpretation of Industry Policies
China’s hydrogen energy industry is in the early stages of development, and there is still a long way to go before reaching industry maturity. The National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration released the "Medium- and Long-term Plan for the Development of Hydrogen Energy Industry (2021-2035)" in March 2022, proposing that the hydrogen production capacity from renewable energy sources will reach 100,000-200,000 tons/year by 2025, and a hydrogen production capacity of 100,000-200,000 tons per year will be achieved by 2035. A relatively complete innovation system will form a diversified application ecosystem by 2035.
In summary, hydrogen energy can be divided into "gray hydrogen", "blue hydrogen" and "green hydrogen" according to the source of production. By the end of 2021, China's hydrogen energy production exceeded 33 million tons. From the demand side, China's demand for hydrogen energy will continue to grow in the future, with annual demand expected to exceed 130 million tons by 2060. Looking at downstream applications, the number of hydrogen refueling stations in China exceeds 270. According to plans such as the "Medium and Long-term Plan for the Development of Hydrogen Energy Industry (2021-2035)", China's hydrogen energy industry will gradually improve in the future.
——For more detailed research and analysis of this industry, please see the "China Hydrogen Energy Industry Development Prospects Forecast and Investment Strategic Planning Analysis Report" by the Qianzhan Industry Research Institute