Recently, ten Chinese ministries, including the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the Ministry of Natural Resources, jointly issued the Green and Low-Carbon Transformation Industry Guidance Catalogue for 2024. This pivotal publication marks a significant evolution from the Green Industry Guidance Catalogue of 2019, particularly highlighting substantial advancements in hydrogen energy’s role in China’s green transition.
The 2024 catalogue introduces a comprehensive hydrogen energy sector guidance, encompassing the entire hydrogen supply chain from production to storage, transport, and usage. This inclusion reflects China’s commitment to developing a robust infrastructure for hydrogen energy, aiming to establish a solid foundation for the hydrogen economy’s growth.
Significant changes from the 2019 edition include the expansion of hydrogen energy infrastructure scope, emphasizing the construction and operation of facilities that enable the efficient use and storage of hydrogen. This broadened infrastructure category now incorporates facilities for renewable hydrogen production, hydrogen-electricity coupling, safe and efficient hydrogen storage, hydrogen refueling stations, and maintenance of fuel cell operations. Additionally, the catalogue for the first time includes the construction and operation of facilities for producing green diesel, aviation kerosene, ethanol, methanol, and ammonia from hydrogen.
By incorporating segments such as hydrogen production and equipment manufacturing, the 2024 guidance catalogue demonstrates China’s achievements in hydrogen energy development and its ambition to cover the entire industry chain. This strategic move is expected to accelerate the country’s green and low-carbon transformation, paving the way for a sustainable energy future.
