China has begun full-scale operation of its first green hydrogen-integrated coal-to-chemicals complex, presenting a replicable model for decarbonizing the coal chemical industry.
China Datang Corporation, one of the world's largest power generation enterprises, put the project into full-scale commercial operation on Thursday at its 150MW wind and solar power facility in Duolun County, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
Coal-to-chemicals processes produce a fuel called syngas, but the initial fuel suffers from a hydrogen deficit. Sourcing the necessary hydrogen by traditional methods produces high amounts of carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas. By using green hydrogen production, carbon emissions are cut significantly.
"The project is expected to produce 70.59 million cubic meters of hydrogen annually, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 138,800 tons, an environmental benefit equivalent to the annual carbon absorption of approximately 1,400 hectares (about 1,944 football fields) of mature forest," said Cao Guo'an, director of the production station. The project achieved sustained and stable operation of large-scale electrolyzers in China's chemical industry. It has generated 28 invention patents and established three corporate standards. The station was also selected as one of the first pilot projects for hydrogen energy applications by China's National Energy Administration.
Construction on the project began in November 2023, with a total investment of around 1.3 billion yuan (about 183 million U.S. dollars).
China's first green hydrogen-integrated coal chemicals plant enters full operation
