Over 20 cities, provinces in China issue policy to develop hydrogen industry

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- The initiative of promoting the construction of such infrastructures as hydrogen-refueling stations was unveiled by China in the Report on the Work of the Government this year. Roughly estimated, over 20 cities and provinces in this country have released their planning on developing hydrogen energy and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, forming six regional industrial clusters across China, according to China’s media outlets.

Shanxi provincial government said it intends to build itself into China’s “hydrogen valley” by conducting pilot programs based on existing hydrogen vehicle related industries in such cities as Taiyuan, Datong and Changzhi.

Local government of Rugao, a county-level city of Jiangsu Province, aims to increase its annual output value of hydrogen industry to over RMB100 billion by 2030. Besides, hydrogen energy developers and NEV makers who develop high-level R&D platforms will be granted with up to RMB10 million supporting funds. 

It is predicted that China’s hydrogen fuel cell vehicle volume will amount to around 10,000 units by 2020; by 2030, the national population of hydrogen vehicles will grow to 2 million units, accounting for nearly 5% of the country’s total vehicle outputs. Meanwhile, output value of hydrogen vehicle industry is expected to surpass RMB1 trillion, said the Blue Book of China's Hydrogen Industry Infrastructure Development (2016).

It seems that it still has a long way to go to fulfill the target. According to relevant data, only 1,619 hydrogen fuel cell vehicles were produced in China last year with few passenger vehicles. In addition, the national hydrogen vehicle outputs and sales for the first four months in 2019 surged 154.8% and 289.8% respectively year on year to 237 units and 230 units, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.