Tracking Green Hydrogen Projects—Sinopec Kuche Establishes New-Type Electrolysis Test Base, 3,000 Nm³/h Equipment Leads Breakthrough in Green Hydrogen Industrialization

According to the project environmental impact report disclosed on November 28, Sinopec Star Xinjiang Green Hydrogen Energy Co., Ltd. will invest in and construct a new-type electrolyzer industrialization application demonstration project in the Xinjiang Kuqa Economic and Technological Development Zone. The project plans to build two sets of electrolysis equipment test benches with industry-leading levels. The introduction of a 3,000 Nm³/h new-type electrolyzer will fill the gap in the industrialization testing of large-scale electrolysis equipment in China, providing key technical support for the scaled development of the green hydrogen industry.

The construction project is located on the reserved vacant land within the existing plant area of the Kuqa Development Zone. The core construction content includes two major functional test benches: one uses a thyristor power supply, compatible with testing for either a 3,000 Nm³/h or 2,000 Nm³/h new-type electrolyzer; the other is equipped with an IGBT power supply, enabling coupled testing of a 2,000 Nm³/h square electrolyzer and a 500 Nm³/h PEM hydrogen production device. The project also includes the construction of auxiliary facilities such as utility pipelines, an automatic control system, and gas collection pipelines. Upon completion, it will become the first comprehensive testing platform in China covering large-flow alkaline electrolyzer and PEM hydrogen production coupling technology.

As a core platform under Sinopec focused on the green hydrogen business, Star Company's current layout has a clear logic for technological iteration. Public information shows that the 3,000 Nm³/h class electrolyzer has become a focal point of industry technology competition. Similar products, such as the CZH series square alkaline electrolyzer from Lanxing Chemical, can achieve a single-unit hydrogen production capacity of 3,000 Nm³/h, with a current density as high as 12,000 A/m². The new-type electrolyzer selected by Sinopec will be further optimized on this basis. In particular, the combination of the IGBT power supply and the square electrolyzer can significantly enhance operational stability under fluctuating green electricity conditions, maintaining long-term stable hydrogen-in-oxygen content below 0.7% and controlling oxygen-in-hydrogen content below 1,000 ppm, meeting the hydrogen demand for high-safety requirement scenarios such as refining and chemical processes.

The construction background of this project is closely linked to the successful operation of the Kuqa Green Hydrogen Demonstration Project. As China's first 10kt-scale green hydrogen refining project, the Kuqa Green Hydrogen Demonstration Project had a total investment of nearly 3 billion yuan, equipped with a 300 MW PV power station and an annual production 20,000 mt hydrogen plant. By September 2025, it had operated safely for over 800 days, cumulatively delivering 14,900 mt of green hydrogen and replacing natural gas-based hydrogen production to reduce CO2 emissions by over 350,000 mt. The residential natural gas blending with hydrogen scenario expanded on this basis had cumulatively blended 332 mt of green hydrogen, verifying the feasibility of multi-scenario applications for green hydrogen.

A relevant person in charge from Sinopec stated that the construction of the new-type electrolyzer test base will accelerate the industrialization conversion process of green hydrogen production technology. After the project is completed, it will not only provide equipment upgrade support for the existing Kuqa Green Hydrogen Project but will also, through the multi-energy complementary mode of "thermal hydrogen, wind and solar power, and PV+ESS," promote the development of the green hydrogen industry cluster in the Xinjiang region. In line with Sinopec's strategic goal of "building China's leading hydrogen energy company," the company will further replicate the "green hydrogen + refining" model and deploy more than 10 green hydrogen demonstration projects each with a scale of over 10kt nationwide.

Industry experts pointed out that the testing and application of this 3,000 Nm³/h electrolyzer marks that China's green hydrogen production equipment has entered a new stage characterized by "large flow rate and high integration." Compared with traditional equipment, the investment per unit of hydrogen capacity for the new-type electrolyzer can be reduced by 15%-20%. Combined with the fast response characteristics of IGBT power supply, it can better adapt to the volatility of new energy power generation, providing a key technical pathway for reducing green hydrogen costs. With the commissioning of the testing platform, the penetration rate of large-scale electrolyzers in the domestic market is expected to rise to over 40% by 2026, propelling the green hydrogen industry into the fast lane of scaled development.

The full announcement is as follows:

First Public Notice on the Environmental Impact Report for the New-Type Electrolyzer Industrial Application Demonstration Project of Sinopec Star Xinjiang Green Hydrogen Energy Co., Ltd.

In November 2025, our company entrusted Xinjiang Environmental Protection Group Environmental Detection Technology Co., Ltd. to undertake the environmental impact assessment for the "New-Type Electrolyzer Industrial Application Demonstration Project of Sinopec Star Xinjiang Green Hydrogen Energy Co., Ltd." In accordance with the Environmental Impact Assessment Law of the People's Republic of China and the Measures for Public Participation in Environmental Impact Assessment (Ministry Order No. 4), the first information disclosure for this project's environmental impact assessment is now made to solicit opinions and suggestions from the public. The disclosure materials are as follows:

I. Basic Information of the Construction Project

Project Name: New-Type Electrolyzer Industrial Application Demonstration Project of Sinopec Star Xinjiang Green Hydrogen Energy Co., Ltd.

Nature of Construction: New Construction

Construction Site: South side, east along Fuyang Road at the intersection of Fuyang Road and Jingsi Road, Kuqa Economic and Technological Development Zone, on the reserved vacant land of the existing plant area.

Construction Content and Scale: Construct two sets of electrolysis equipment; including one test station using thyristor power supply, capable of testing a new-type electrolyzer of 3,000 Nm³/h or 2,000 Nm³/h; and one test station using IGBT power supply, capable of coupled testing of a 2,000 Nm³/h square electrolyzer and a 500 Nm³/h PEM hydrogen production device. Also included are supporting utility connection pipelines, automatic control systems, electrical equipment, gas collection pipelines, etc.

II. Name and Contact Information of the Construction Unit

Construction Unit Name: Sinopec Star Xinjiang Green Hydrogen Energy Co., Ltd.

Contact Person: Meng Lingjun

Contact Information: 13307799044

III. Name and Contact Information of the Environmental Impact Assessment Unit

Environmental Impact Assessment Agency: Xinjiang Environmental Protection Group Environmental Detection Technology Co., Ltd.

Contact Person: Jiang Zhaowen

Telephone: 15160927335

Email: 240292960@qq.com

IV. Network Link for the Public Opinion Form

V. Methods and Channels for Submitting the Public Opinion Form

Within 10 working days after this information disclosure, the public may submit written opinions to the construction unit, its entrusted environmental impact assessment agency, or the competent ecological and environmental administrative department responsible for approval, by mail, fax, email, or other methods as required by the relevant announcement.