Tracking Green Hydrogen Projects—China Huadian Launches Tender for First Phase of 1 GW Green Hydrogen Project, 88 Alkaline Electrolyzers to Boost Wind and Solar Power-Based Hydrogen Production Development

On November 28, Inner Mongolia Huadian Damao Banner launched the tender announcement for the first phase of its 1 million kW wind and solar power hydrogen production project. The project involves research and experimental services for safe and resilient hydrogen production using inorganic carbon material oxidation-assisted alkaline water electrolyzers, as well as research and verification services for the active site performance of ruthenate ALK hydrogen evolution catalysts. The project is scheduled to commence implementation in December 2025 and complete acceptance in December 2028, and joint bids are not accepted.

I. Basic Project Overview

The project is located in Damao Banner, Baotou City, Inner Mongolia, with rich and large-scale construction content. In terms of new energy power generation, it will construct 1 million kW of new energy power generation facilities, including 700 MW of wind power (installing 70 wind turbine units with a single unit capacity of 10 MW) and 300 MW of PV (installing 405,406 half-cell double-glass N-type modules of 740 Wp or above). It will also include the construction of supporting facilities such as two 220 kV booster stations, access roads, and power collection lines. For energy storage, a 100 MW/200 MWh LFP battery ESS power station will be built. For hydrogen production and storage, 88 water electrolysis hydrogen production units with a capacity of 1,000 Nm³/h each and supporting equipment (annual hydrogen production of 547 million Nm) will be constructed, along with 25 hydrogen spherical tanks with a water volume of 2,000 m³ each (hydrogen storage capacity of 650,000 Nm). A 220 kV hydrogen production main step-down station and other facilities will also be built.

II. Specific Content of the Two Tender Services

(I) Research and Experimental Services for Safe and Resilient Hydrogen Production Using Inorganic Carbon Material Oxidation-Assisted Alkaline Water Electrolyzers

This section (Project Management - Research and Experiment on Safe and Resilient Hydrogen Production Using Inorganic Carbon Material Oxidation-Assisted Alkaline Water Electrolyzers, No. CHDTDZ046/16-QT-85801) primarily includes the following research contents: selecting inorganic carbon materials with different capacitances, defect levels, structures, and low costs; studying factors influencing carbon oxidation potential to obtain materials with low oxidation potential, thereby improving the hydrogen production efficiency of alkaline water electrolyzers; investigating the operating conditions of alkaline water electrolyzers that utilize inorganic carbon oxidation to replace the oxygen evolution reaction, with a focus on slurry carbon content, flow velocity, and operation under different power levels; examining the characteristics of products after inorganic carbon oxidation and achieving material regeneration through methods such as illumination, heating, and electrochemistry; integrating fluctuating power sources (solar, wind, etc.) with alkaline water electrolyzers to achieve safe and resilient hydrogen production.

The final research outcomes must include: one prototype of a new-generation alkaline water electrolyzer device, one technology for water electrolysis with fluctuating current in alkaline electrolyzers, one set of intelligent energy management system software, one research report (including two sub-reports), two SCI papers, two authorized utility model patents, and one invention patent application.

(II) Research and Verification Services for the Active Site Performance of Ruthenate ALK Hydrogen Evolution Catalysts

This section (Project Management - Research and Verification Services for the Active Site Performance of Ruthenate ALK Hydrogen Evolution Catalysts, No. CHDTDZ046/16-QT-85901) research content covers: retrieving crystal structure information of ruthenium-based multi-metal oxides through databases such as ICSD and literature review, summarizing different structures and preliminarily screening systems based on synthesis potential; constructing theoretical models, using first-principles methods combined with conductivity and intermediate adsorption energy to screen potential ALK catalyst materials, then optimizing results through reaction kinetics and molecular dynamics simulations; based on theoretical screening, conducting catalyst synthesis, primarily using solid-state reactions along with various auxiliary methods to prepare multi-component ruthenium-based oxide catalysts, and performing basic characterization such as XRD and SEM, then screening for excellent and stable catalysts through electrochemical testing and exploring performance variation patterns; using techniques such as synchrotron radiation for precise characterization of catalyst structure, establishing models for reaction simulation to understand reaction mechanisms and structure-activity relationships; improving technologies such as plasma spraying, optimizing processes and adjusting coating factors, exploring the relationship between coating structure and performance to achieve the preparation of new, efficient, and stable ceramic electrodes, as well as understanding and performance regulation of the active sites of ruthenate ALK hydrogen evolution catalysts.

Final Scientific Research Output Requirements: Four types of high-performance ALK catalysts, one batch production and quality control technology for high-efficiency catalysts, one spraying technology for high-performance powdered ALK catalysts, one set of AI-assisted catalyst retrieval software, two research reports (including four sub-reports), two SCI papers, two new-type utility model patent authorizations, and one invention patent application.