The international community should redouble efforts and work together to unlock the full potential of hydrogen energy to seek a zero-carbon development path while cutting the energy's high costs, said Fu Xiaolong, deputy director of the International Hydrogen Energy Center (IHEC).
The presidency of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) has proposed a new annual climate finance goal of 1.3 trillion U.S. dollars by 2035, with developed nations urged to contribute 250 billion U.S. dollars annually to support developing countries.
Hydrogen energy is also in focus as a key solution for zero-carbon growth, but high costs and limited applications remain barriers.
In a recent interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) on the sidelines of the COP29 in Baku, capital of Azerbaijan, Fu highlighted global cooperation and innovation to make clean energy affordable for developing nations.
"To accelerate the development of hydrogen energy, we must advance both technological and industrial innovation. Our focus includes developing next-generation materials, hydrogen production platforms and integrated control systems to enhance efficiency and reduce costs. Expanding clean hydrogen's role in low-carbon fuel production such as green ammonia, green methanol and SAF (sustainable aviation fuel) is essential," he said.
"It is crucial for countries to leverage their unique strengths within the hydrogen value chain and engage into global cooperation through the hydrogen trade network. The IHEC will continue integrate into UNIDO's (United Nations Industrial Development Organization) global cooperation network, starting with hydrogen energy and aiming to enable affordable zero-carbon industrial development in developing countries, and leverage China's technical and industrial strengths in hydrogen energy," Fu said.
The COP29 which opened on Nov 11, brought together negotiators to discuss strategies for reducing carbon emissions, achieving carbon neutrality and advancing the transition to green technologies.
The IHEC is a globally influential technology innovation hub for hydrogen energy. The Beijing-based center was established by the Tsinghua Industrial R&D Institute (TIDRI) under the auspices of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information Technology (BEIT) and China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges (CICETE), and supported by UNIDO.
International Hydrogen Energy Center urges joint efforts to tap potential of hydrogen energy
