[SMM Hydrogen Energy Industry Weekly Review] 20250516

I. Policy Review: Synergistic Advancement of Top-Level Design and Local Pilots

Implementation Rules for the Medium and Long-Term Development Plan for the Hydrogen Energy Industry (2025-2035) Released

On May 8, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the National Energy Administration jointly issued the implementation rules, setting the 2025 hydrogen energy industry targets: a fuel cell vehicle ownership exceeding 100,000 units, 500 hydrogen refueling stations built, and green hydrogen production reaching 500,000 mt/year.

Key Directions:

Additional subsidies for the demonstration city clusters of fuel cell vehicles, with a maximum subsidy of 500,000 yuan per unit;

Allowing the construction of PV hydrogen production projects outside chemical industrial parks (subject to safety distance requirements).

Multiple Regions Launch Hydrogen Transportation Demonstration Projects

Shanghai: On May 10, the Lin-gang Special Area launched the "Hydrogen Heavy Truck Logistics Corridor," deploying 50 49-ton heavy trucks equipped with SinoHytec's 120kW fuel cell systems, supported by three hydrogen refueling stations;

Guangdong: On May 12, Nanhai District, Foshan City, announced the "Hydrogen Ship Subsidy Policy," providing a subsidy of 10 million yuan per inland river hydrogen-powered cargo ship, aiming for a 10% hydrogenation rate of inland waterway vessels by 2026.

EU Approves the Hydrogen Trade Security Regulation

On May 14, the European Commission announced a "carbon tariff exemption" for imported hydrogen, but requires exporting countries to meet green hydrogen certification (life cycle carbon emissions ≤ 2 kg CO₂/kg H₂) and supply chain traceability.

Domestic Response: Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, and other provinces rich in wind and solar power resources are accelerating international certification of green hydrogen projects to seize the early market opportunities in the EU.

II. Corporate Dynamics: Accelerating Industry Chain Integration and Global Layout

SinoHytec: On May 8, it announced winning the bid for the Beijing Winter Olympics hydrogen bus renewal project, providing 200 vehicles equipped with the fourth-generation fuel cell system, with power density increased to 4.8 kW/L;

Refire: On May 11, it signed an agreement with Maersk to provide ten 200kW fuel cell systems for the world's first liquid hydrogen-powered container ship, scheduled for delivery in 2027.

Energy Central State-Owned Enterprises Increase Green Hydrogen Production

Sinopec: On May 13, it announced the launch of the second phase of the "Wind and Solar Power to Hydrogen Integration" project in Ulanqab, Inner Mongolia, with a total investment of 5 billion yuan, planning to produce 100,000 mt of green hydrogen annually, and constructing the country's first underground hydrogen storage facility;

SPIC: On May 15, it formed a joint venture, "Middle East Green Hydrogen Company," with Saudi ACWA Power, planning to invest $3 billion in building a 4 GW electrolyzer production site in the NEOM New City, Saudi Arabia.

Emerging Cases of Cross-Industry Collaboration

CATL: On May 10, it unveiled a "hydrogen-lithium synergy" solution, leveraging retired power batteries as electrolyser energy storage units to achieve a 20% cost reduction in integrated wind-solar-hydrogen energy storage systems.

SF Express: On May 14, it announced the pilot launch of a "hydrogen-powered drone delivery network" in Hangzhou, employing Guohong Hydrogen Energy's 90kW fuel cell drones with a driving range of 800 kilometers.

III. Technological Advancements: Breakthroughs in Energy Storage, Transportation, and Fuel Cells

Commercialization of Organic Liquid Hydrogen Storage Technology

On May 9, Wuhan Hydrogen Energy and PetroChina collaborated to establish the world's first "liquid hydrogen refuelling station" in Huanggang, Hubei, achieving full-chain integration of methanol reforming for hydrogen production, storage, transportation, and refuelling, with a hydrogen storage density of 5.7 wt%.

Cost Advantages: Compared to high-pressure gaseous hydrogen storage, this technology reduces transportation costs by 40% and is already suitable for commercial vehicle applications.

Record-Breaking Energy Density in Solid-State Hydrogen Storage Materials

On May 12, a team from South China University of Technology announced the development of rare-earth-based solid-state hydrogen storage materials with a volumetric hydrogen storage density of 110 g/L (under normal temperature and pressure) and a cycle life exceeding 10,000 cycles, targeting distributed power generation applications.

Industrialisation Progress: The material has passed validation by Guangdong Hongli Hydrogen Power and is planned for mass production in 2026.

Fuel Cell Lifespan Exceeds 30,000 Hours

On May 15, Shanghai Hydrogen ProTech unveiled the P4H30 fuel cell stack, featuring a power density of 4.2 kW/L and a measured lifespan of 32,000 hours (under simulated operating conditions), representing a 50% improvement over the previous generation, suitable for long-cycle applications such as shipping and power generation.

IV. Industrial Synergy: Cross-Sector Integration and New Business Model Exploration

Implementation of a "Hydrogen-Electricity-Heat" Multi-Energy Complementary Park

On May 10, Jiangsu Yancheng Economic and Technological Development Zone established China's first hydrogen-powered zero-carbon park, integrating a 20 MW electrolyser, 50 MWh solid-state hydrogen storage, and a 10 MW fuel cell combined heat and power system, achieving an overall energy efficiency of 82%.

Business Model: The park enhances annual revenue by 18% through peak-valley electricity price spread arbitrage and carbon trading.

Integration of Hydrogen-Powered Heavy-Duty Trucks with Battery Swapping Model

On May 13, Sany Heavy Industry, in collaboration with China Energy Investment Corporation, launched a "hydrogen-powered heavy-duty truck battery swapping solution," with a single hydrogen refuelling time of just 3 minutes and a driving range of 800 kilometers. 300 units have already been deployed on coal transportation routes in Ordos.

Policy Support: Inner Mongolia offers subsidies of 5 million yuan per battery swapping station, requiring a localisation rate of hydrogen refuelling equipment of ≥70%.

​​Aviation Hydrogen Energy Alliance Established​​

On May 15, 12 enterprises including Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC), Airbus China, and Sinopec jointly established the "Aviation Hydrogen Energy Innovation Alliance", with the goal of completing airworthiness certification for hydrogen-powered airliners by 2035. The first model will be the hydrogen-electric hybrid version of the regional airliner ARJ21.