China has emerged as a world leader in renewable energy-based hydrogen production, boasting more than 50 percent of global installed capacity, and is setting its sights on substantial industrial-scale breakthroughs in its 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) period.
Driven by ambitious government policies and technological advancements, China has been racing ahead in developing its renewable hydrogen industry, with its annual production capacity exceeding 220,000 tonnes, which is more than a half of the global total. A major project helping to drive the growing capacity is the Ningdong Renewable Hydrogen and Carbon Reduction Demonstration Zone in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, which has supplied nearly 11 million standard cubic meters of green hydrogen, cutting carbon emissions by about 20,000 tonnes.
Speaking in an interview in Ningxia, Secretary-General of the China Hydrogen Alliance Wan Yanming stressed that China's investment in clean hydrogen projects now account for 30 percent of the global total, ranking first globally.
"China's annual green hydrogen production capacity now exceeds 220,000 tonnes, accounting for more than 50 percent the global total. We have built 540 hydrogen refueling stations, representing 40 percent of the world's total," Wan said
At the same time, innovative hydrogen technologies continue to emerge rapidly.
The cost of hydrogen production through water electrolysis has fallen to 20 yuan (about 2.83 U.S. dollars) to 30 yuan per kilogram, down nearly 40 percent from 2020.
This sharp decline has driven accelerated breakthroughs in green ammonia production, long-distance pipelines, and marine hydrogen energy.
China aims to establish a well-organized industrial layout and promote the widespread use of hydrogen production from renewable sources by 2030, providing robust support for achieving its carbon peaking goals.
Over the coming five years, the country is poised to accelerate the large-scale development of hydrogen energy, striving to achieve 100 GW of installed capacity for renewable hydrogen production and establish a comprehensive technological innovation system for the hydrogen industry, along with a clean energy hydrogen production and supply system.
China leads global green hydrogen production, eyes industrial-scale breakthroughs in next 5 years
