[SMM Analysis] Partial List of Hydrogen Energy Sector's "Unveiling the List and Appointing the Leader" Tasks Freshly Released!

Recently, the MIIT announced a batch of projects under its 2025 hydrogen energy initiative, which includes four major directions and 22 challenge tasks. SMM has compiled the recently publicized projects.

I. Hydrogen Storage Sector

Henan Zhongke Qingneng Technology Co., Ltd.:Its challenge direction is the "Demonstration Application of the Liquid Hydrogen 'Production-Storage-Transportation' Industry Chain." One of the objectives is to achieve a liquefaction capacity of ≥5.5 mt/day for civil liquid hydrogen plants by 2026.

It is reported that the company had already launched a 5 mt/day hydrogen liquefaction equipment by the end of 2024, with technical indicators reaching international advanced levels. It is currently conducting R&D on 35 mt/day-level hydrogen liquefaction equipment, which will be the world's largest single-unit capacity hydrogen liquefaction equipment and is expected to overcome multiple core technologies.

Henan Zhongke Qingneng Technology Co., Ltd. is a new enterprise established three years ago in Zhitian Town, Gongyi City, and has become a star enterprise in the hydrogen energy sector. According to its General Manager Pan Weiwei, on March 12 this year, the Long March 8 Yao-6 carrier rocket successfully sent satellites into their planned orbit from Hainan. The company's independently developed 1 mt/day hydrogen liquefaction equipment provided all the liquid hydrogen fuel for the rocket launch, marking the first large-scale use of fully domestically produced liquid hydrogen in China's aerospace sector.

Zhongchuan Shuangrui (Luoyang) Special Equipment Co., Ltd.:Its challenge direction is fiber-wound metal-lined high-pressure gaseous hydrogen storage containers.

The company's developed 35 MPa and 50 MPa hydrogen storage cylinders have been successfully deployed in multiple hydrogen refueling stations across China. During R&D, it has overcome key technologies such as spinning of thick-walled steel pipes, heat treatment processes for thick-walled containers, internal surface grinding of containers, and material resistance to "hydrogen embrittlement."

Zhongchuan Shuangrui (Luoyang) Special Equipment Co., Ltd. was established in November 2005. It is a core subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited, controlled by the 725th Research Institute (Luoyang Ship Materials Research Institute), and is headquartered at No. 88, Binhe North Road, High-Tech Zone, Luoyang City, Henan Province. As a national Torch Plan key high-tech enterprise, the company focuses on the R&D, manufacturing, and system integration of special equipment, with business covering bridge construction safety, energy storage and transportation, pipeline compensation, and other areas. It is a leader in the domestic high-end equipment manufacturing industry.

II. Catalytic Materials Sector

Southwest Petroleum University:The challenge direction is new-type high-efficiency catalysts for carbon dioxide hydrogenation to methanol.

This project was jointly applied for by Southwest Petroleum University in collaboration with Wuhan University, CNOOC Tianjin Chemical Research and Design Institute Co., Ltd., Jiangxi 863 Industrial Co., Ltd., and relying on Zhejiang Dongjiang Green Petrochemical Technology Innovation Center Co., Ltd.

The project has an execution period of two years, with total funding of 20.5 million yuan. Professor Chen Yongdong from the College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Southwest Petroleum University serves as the project leader.

Fuzhou University: The challenge direction focuses on low-temperature, low-pressure ammonia synthesis catalysts with a wide hydrogen-to-nitrogen ratio.

This project is led by Fuzhou University, with participation from the State Grid Fujian Electric Power Research Institute. It primarily addresses the industrial demand for low-energy-consumption, highly flexible green hydrogen-based green ammonia production systems. Targeting issues such as the high temperature, high pressure, high energy consumption, and narrow hydrogen-to-nitrogen ratio adaptability range of traditional ammonia synthesis catalysts, which struggle to accommodate fluctuations in renewable power electrolysis for hydrogen production from sources like wind and solar, the project aims to develop new, highly efficient non-iron-based, low-temperature, low-pressure ammonia synthesis catalysts with a wide hydrogen-to-nitrogen ratio, along with their scalable preparation technologies. This will support the industrialisation of China's low-temperature, low-pressure, flexible, green, and highly efficient ammonia synthesis technology.

III. Hydrogen Energy Storage Sector

State Grid Fujian Economic Research Institute:Its challenge direction involves large-power SOEC/SOFC hydrogen energy storage power generation system complete equipment.

Aimed at meeting the application needs of industrial green microgrid construction, the project intends to research efficient "hydrogen-electricity" coupling regulation technologies for hydrogen storage and large-power hydrogen production/power generation systems. It will develop modular design and integrated solutions for reversible solid oxide electrolysis cell/solid oxide fuel cell (SOEC/SOFC) systems and hydrogen storage systems. Research will focus on electrolyte materials with high conductivity across a wide temperature range, air electrode materials with good electrolyte interface compatibility, and metal-ceramic fuel electrodes with excellent conductivity, to achieve demonstration applications of large-power hydrogen energy storage power generation systems in distributed renewable energy and backup power supply fields.

As of October 30, 2025, according to SMM statistics, five tasks have clearly identified challenge recipients, while the remaining task directions are still in the public announcement or review stage. SMM will continue to provide updates.