Vigorously develop hydrogen production from renewable energy and promote the high-quality development of the hydrogen energy industry in an orderly manner——Expert Interpretation of "Medium and Long-Term Plan for the Development of Hydrogen Energy Industry (2021-2035)" (1)

The long-awaited "Medium and Long-Term Plan for the Development of Hydrogen Energy Industry (2021-2035)" has finally been released, which will play an important guiding role in the high-quality development of China's hydrogen energy industry

1.

General Secretary Xi Jinping proposed in September 2020 that "China strives to achieve peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060"

The "Planning" proposes the development goal of "by 2025, the number of fuel cell vehicles will be about 50,000, and the hydrogen production from renewable energy will reach 100,000 to 200,000 tons per year.

Hydrogen production from water electrolysis is divided into technical routes such as alkaline electrolysis water hydrogen production (AEC), proton exchange membrane electrolysis water hydrogen production (PEMEC), high temperature steam electrolysis hydrogen production (SOEC) and other technical routes.

2.

The hydrogen energy technology chain is long and has many difficulties.

Compared with electrochemical power cells, China's hydrogen fuel cells are relatively weak in terms of technical reserves, industrial foundation, and talent team, and there is also a certain gap with the international advanced level.

3.

Similar to battery safety for electric vehicles and electrochemical energy storage industries, the role of hydrogen safety in the development of the hydrogen energy industry is self-evident, and efforts must be made to be foolproof

It is worth noting that fuel cell vehicles are only a breakthrough in the application of hydrogen energy.

4.

The application areas of pure electric vehicles in China are mainly concentrated in the eastern, central and southern parts, while the northern, northeastern and northwestern parts are less distributed, because the low temperature in these areas in winter affects the output of power batteries

Compared with the development of pure electric vehicles in China from inception to high-quality development, China's fuel cell vehicle industry lags behind the development of pure electric vehicle industry by about 10 years

We have noticed that the technical complexity of the entire hydrogen energy industry chain and the fierce competition between China and foreign countries cannot be underestimated.

Ouyang Minggao (member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, professor of Tsinghua University)