[SMM Hydrogen Policy Update] Four Hydrogen Standards! National Energy Administration Releases a Batch of Key Industry Standards

On October 22, the National Energy Administration issued Announcement No. 5 of 2025, focusing on promoting the development of new technologies, new industries, and new business models, and standardizing the planning, construction, and operation management of energy projects, releasing a batch of key industry standards. These include four hydrogen-related standards: Stationary Vacuum-Insulated Liquid Hydrogen Pressure Vessels, Code for Preparation of Feasibility Study Reports for Renewable Energy Power Hydrogen Production Projects, Technical Specification for Wide-Range Regulation Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis Hydrogen Production Systems, and Performance Test Methods for Wide-Range Regulation Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis Hydrogen Production Systems.

Among them, the "Code for Preparation of Feasibility Study Reports for Renewable Energy Power Hydrogen Production Projects" applies to the preparation of feasibility study reports for renewable energy water electrolysis hydrogen production projects that primarily use wind power and PV as their main power sources, specifying the principles, work content, and depth for preparing feasibility study reports for renewable energy power hydrogen production projects.

The implementation of these standards will effectively guide and standardize the preparation of feasibility study reports for integrated wind and solar power generation, hydrogen production, and hydrogen storage projects, enhance the economics of hydrogen-electric coupling projects, promote the substantive implementation of projects, and support the high-quality development and technological advancement of China's renewable energy hydrogen production industry.

The content of key industry standards related to energy project planning, construction, and operation management is as follows:

I. Leading the Development of New Energy Technologies, New Industries, and New Business Models

(I) Series Standards for Green Electricity Trading Using Power Blockchain

The four standards, "Green Electricity Trading Using Power Blockchain Part 1: General Requirements," "Green Electricity Trading Using Power Blockchain Part 2: Process Requirements," "Green Electricity Trading Using Power Blockchain Part 3: Functional Requirements," and "Green Electricity Trading Using Power Blockchain Part 4: Interface Requirements," apply to the business design, construction, and application of green electricity trading power blockchain platforms. They guide power trading institutions in using blockchain technology to conduct green electricity trading businesses, specifying the business processes and specific requirements for blockchain technology supporting green electricity trading applications, the reference architecture and functional requirements for power blockchain platforms used in green electricity trading, the data interface invocation processes for information interaction provided by power blockchain platforms to green electricity trading platforms, as well as data interface technical requirements and interface protocols.

The implementation of these standards will provide important references and guidance for building a safe, efficient, and convenient green electricity trading system, help lay a solid foundation for the large-scale development of the green electricity market, promote collaborative cooperation among upstream and downstream enterprises in the green electricity industry chain, and boost the green and low-carbon transformation of China's energy structure.

(II) Series Standards for Intelligent Underground Coal Mines

The three standards, "Intelligent Underground Coal Mines Part 1: Design Specifications," "Intelligent Underground Coal Mines Part 2: Installation Requirements," and "Intelligent Underground Coal Mines Part 3: Acceptance Specifications," apply to the intelligent design, installation, and acceptance of new, renovated, and expanded underground coal mines in the coal industry, specifying general requirements, infrastructure, production and safety monitoring systems, integrated management and control platforms, and other aspects for the intelligent design, installation, and acceptance of underground coal mines.

The issuance and implementation of this standard will provide comprehensive and systematic basis and guidance for the intelligent design, installation, construction, and acceptance of underground coal mines, helping to standardize the intelligent construction of underground coal mines and providing solid support for the stable and regular operation of intelligent systems.

(III) Technical Specification for Intelligent Safety Production Management and Control Systems in Thermal Power Plants

This standard applies to the processes of design, implementation, and acceptance of intelligent safety production management and control systems in thermal power plants, specifying technical requirements such as the system architecture, configuration requirements, intelligent applications, testing and acceptance, and documentation.

The issuance and implementation of this standard will provide guidance for thermal power plants in carrying out design, implementation, and acceptance testing in the field of intelligent safety production, helping to enhance safety production management levels through intelligent technology services.

(IV) Code of Practice for Preparing Feasibility Study Reports on Renewable Energy Power-to-Hydrogen Projects

This standard applies to the preparation of feasibility study reports for water electrolysis hydrogen production projects using renewable energy, with wind and solar power as the main power sources, specifying the principles, work content, and depth for preparing feasibility study reports on renewable energy power-to-hydrogen projects.

The issuance and implementation of this standard can effectively guide and standardize the preparation of feasibility study reports for integrated projects of wind and solar power generation, hydrogen production, and hydrogen storage, effectively enhance the economics of hydrogen-electricity coupling projects, promote the substantive implementation of projects, and contribute to the high-quality development and technological progress of China's renewable energy hydrogen production industry.

(V) Technical Specification for Green Electricity Consumption Evaluation

This standard applies to the evaluation of green electricity consumption for four types of subjects: organizations, products, activities, and individuals, specifying aspects such as evaluation principles, basic requirements, evaluation procedures and requirements, evaluation report requirements, evaluation results and application, and information and data management.

The issuance and implementation of this standard will help standardize China's green electricity consumption evaluation-related work, effectively connect with China's green electricity certificate policy, provide a foundation for establishing a green electricity consumption certification system, and better promote green energy consumption based on green electricity certificates.

(VI) Operation Code for Submarine Power Cables

This standard applies to AC submarine power cables of 10kV and above, specifying technical requirements for the operation and maintenance of submarine power cable lines, including project acceptance, inspection, safety protection, live detection and condition monitoring, condition assessment, routes and ancillary facilities, and equipment maintenance.

The issuance and implementation of this standard have standardized the technical requirements for the operation and maintenance of submarine cable bodies, routes, ancillary facilities, and equipment, improved the operational reliability of submarine cable lines, enhanced the applicability of new technologies such as live detection and condition monitoring in various application scenarios of submarine cable lines, and play an important role in the application of new quality productive forces.

II. Regulating the Planning, Construction, and Operation Management of Energy Projects

(1) Technical Guidelines for Medium-Voltage Distribution Network Upgrades

This standard applies to the upgrading of 10 kV public AC distribution networks, and may be referenced for 6 kV and 20 kV distribution networks. It specifies the technical requirements for upgrading 10 kV overhead lines and equipment, 10 kV cable lines, switching stations, ring main units (RMUs), distribution rooms, user connections, as well as the integration of distributed power sources, ESS, and EV charging and battery swapping facilities, and secondary systems.

The issuance and implementation of this standard can effectively guide distribution networks in enhancing their capacity to accommodate new-type sources and loads, improve the safety and economic operation levels of distribution networks, promote the enhancement of power supply voltage quality and energy conservation and carbon reduction, and better support the large-scale grid connection of distributed PV.

(2) Technical Specifications for EV Load Aggregation Systems

This standard applies to the design, R&D, construction, acceptance, and operation of EV load aggregation systems, and specifies the system architecture, functions, performance, and safety technical requirements for load aggregation systems.

The issuance and implementation of this standard provide a basis for achieving load aggregation and power regulation of charging piles (or groups) and their participation in auxiliary services of the power grid.

(3) Basic Requirements for the Preparation of Intelligent Mine Construction Plans

This standard applies to the preparation and revision of intelligent construction plans for underground mines, open-pit mines, and coal preparation plants, and specifies the overall requirements and main content for the preparation of intelligent mine construction plans.

The issuance and implementation of this standard can provide guidance for the preparation of intelligent mine construction plans, enhance the scientific and standardized nature of intelligent mine construction, and support the iterative upgrading of intelligent systems.