BEIJING, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- China's hydrogen energy industry enjoys broad prospects for future development, fueled by great policy support and increasing market demand, according to industry insiders.
Chinese companies have stepped up investment in hydrogen in recent years, injecting vitality into the industrial development.
-- Fast growth in 2019
The hydrogen energy industry in China experienced fast growth in 2019.
Data from China Hydrogen Alliance showed that 38 new hydrogen refueling stations (HRSs) was built in China in 2019. By the end of 2019, the country had a total of 66 HRSs, ranking third in the world.
The development was partially attributed to the rapid increase in the production of fuel cell vehicles, which have the strong demand for hydrogen.
Last year, the output and sales of fuel cell vehicles in China were 2,833 units and 2,737 units, surging 85.5 percent and 79.2 percent year on year respectively, according to China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.
Hydrogen energy is considered an ideal clean energy that can be produced from rich resources and applied in such fields as transportation and industry. Developing hydrogen economy can not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but also diversify energy supply.
As the clean energy has been incorporated into China's energy development strategy, policies have been rolled out to promote the construction of hydrogen refueling infrastructure.
In March of 2019, promoting the construction of hydrogen refueling facilities was included for the first time in government work report.
In April of last year, Chinese authorities including the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), Ministry of Science and Technology as well as National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) made it clear in a circular that local subsidies should come to support the construction of hydrogen refueling infrastructure.
Also in April, 2019, NDRC issued a catalogue of guidance for industrial structure adjustment that encourages the development of HRSs.
In last December, MIIT began to solicit opinions on the development plan for new energy vehicles (NEVs) from 2021 to 2035 and specified that it would promote the construction of HRSs.
At the local level, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Guangdong provinces have released a host of policies to boost development of hydrogen energy, while Shandong, Shanxi and Liaoning provinces are speeding up efforts to push forward the growth of the industry.
-- Enterprise investment
Optimistic about the hydrogen energy industry, many listed companies in China have increased their investment and some have yielded fruitful outcomes.
For example, Hunan Corun New Energy Co., Ltd. (600478.SH), a new energy developer dedicated to hybrid power, recently announced that passenger vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells that were developed by Corun had been put into operation in a national scenic spot in Guangdong province.
The world's first hydrogen-powered tram, developed by CRRC Sifang Co., Ltd., started commercial operation in December of 2019.
Guangdong Oil Company affiliated to China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) built the country's first fuel station providing oil, hydrogen and power in July of 2019. The company said it would build more oil and hydrogen stations in Guangdong province.
It is reported that hydrogen fuel cells have also boosted stocks of related firms listed in the A-share market. (Edited by Su Dan)
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