[SMM Hydrogen Policy Update] Hunan Provincial Department of Transport and Hunan Provincial Energy Bureau: Release the "Hunan Provincial Expressway LNG Refueling Station and Hydrogen Refueling Station Layout and Construction Plan"

The Department of Transportation of Hunan Province and the Hunan Energy Bureau jointly issued the "Layout and Construction Plan for LNG Refueling Stations and Hydrogen Refueling Stations on Hunan Expressways" (hereinafter referred to as the "Plan"), aiming to accelerate the deep integration of transportation and energy, build a clean energy supply network covering the entire provincial expressway system, and facilitate the green and low-carbon transformation of transportation. According to the Plan, Hunan will advance construction in three phases: near-term, medium-term, and long-term. By 2035, it is expected to have cumulatively built 174 liquefied natural gas (LNG) refueling stations, with a focus on creating a hydrogen energy demonstration corridor along national expressway trunk lines such as the G4 Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Expressway and the G60 Shanghai-Kunming Expressway, which will include 16 hydrogen refueling stations.

The Plan specifies adherence to the principle of "prioritizing expressway trunk lines and gradually expanding," to establish a rationally distributed, safe, and efficient new energy supply network. The construction of LNG refueling stations will initially focus on service areas, parking areas, and former provincial border toll stations with high traffic flow, favorable market conditions, and mature construction conditions, later extending to other sections. The goal is to achieve a layout of one pair of LNG refueling stations approximately every 100 kilometers on the national expressway network and every 200 kilometers on the provincial expressway network, meeting the long-distance travel needs of LNG vehicles and creating green logistics corridors.

Regarding hydrogen energy deployment, Hunan will focus on creating a "hydrogen refueling demonstration corridor" running north-south and east-west. The plan indicates that by 2027 (near-term), the first batch of 4 pairs (8 units) of hydrogen refueling stations will be completed in the Baling and Changsha service areas of the Hunan section of the Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Expressway, and the Jinyushi and Xinhuang service areas of the Hunan section of the Shanghai-Kunming Expressway. By 2030 (medium-term), it is planned to add 2 pairs (4 units) of hydrogen refueling stations in the Leifeng and Linwu service areas of the Xuguang Expressway. By 2035 (long-term), efforts will be made to complete another 2 pairs (4 units) of hydrogen refueling stations in the Zhaoshan service area of the Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Expressway and the Anjiang service area of the Shanghai-Kunming Expressway, ultimately forming a demonstration network totaling 8 pairs of service areas with 16 hydrogen refueling stations to drive the development of the hydrogen energy industry.

The Plan requires all relevant units to strengthen organizational leadership, strictly follow construction procedures, reinforce primary responsibility for safety production, and secure construction funds. Transportation and energy authorities at all levels will enhance guidance and coordination to ensure projects proceed in compliance with regulations. Additionally, a dynamic adjustment mechanism will be established to regularly evaluate implementation and optimize station layouts.

This initiative is a concrete action by Hunan Province to implement the national "dual carbon" goals and develop new quality productive forces. It will effectively optimize the energy structure, provide convenient refueling for new energy vehicles, and promote the transition of the provincial transportation system toward green, low-carbon, and high-efficiency directions.