Hydrogen set to be key driver of green transition

As China steers its vast economy toward a more sustainable future, hydrogen energy has emerged as a critical catalyst for the nation's energy revolution and its pursuit of ecological civilization.

By integrating cutting-edge hydrogen technology with ambitious climate targets, the nation is rapidly building a comprehensive hydrogen ecosystem to anchor its green transition.

The sector is now bracing for industrial-scale breakthroughs as the nation embarks on its 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) period. This new development phase targets regional self-sufficiency in renewable and clean, low-carbon hydrogen, providing a robust power source for broader economic transformation and growth.

This strategic momentum is guided by top-level design. President Xi Jinping said at the tone-setting 2025 Central Economic Work Conference in December that China should study the establishment of a national low-carbon transition fund and foster new growth drivers such as hydrogen energy and green fuels.

Building on these directives, the government is cultivating hydrogen as a vital industry of the future.

"We are transitioning from policy-driven growth toward a robust, market-led expansion," said Bian Guangqi, deputy director-general of the National Energy Administration's science and technology department.

Bian noted that the government is stepping up efforts to integrate hydrogen into national energy planning through the development of massive "wind-solar-hydrogen-ammonia-alcohol" integrated bases. These efforts include accelerating technological innovation, establishing a comprehensive regulatory system and expanding high-level global cooperation.

The initiative aligns well with the Chinese government's strategic commitment to building an ecological civilization, emphasizing the harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature.

Eyeing carbon dioxide emission peak before 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality before 2060, China has made the hydrogen industry a strategic priority. This commitment has placed the country at the forefront of the global energy shift.

China's leadership in clean hydrogen deployment is now undeniable, said Ivana Jemelkova, CEO of the Hydrogen Council, a global CEO-led initiative comprising the world's leading businesses and investors in hydrogen.

By 2025, China accounted for approximately $33 billion of the $110 billion in committed global investment in the hydrogen sector, nearly one-third of the world's total, she said.

"It is truly remarkable to see the speed and scale of development here firsthand," Jemelkova said during the recently held fifth China International Hydrogen Congress and Expo in Beijing.

"China currently leads the world in electrolyzer deployment and renewable hydrogen production capacity, and the country's viewing of hydrogen as a 'strategic opportunity' for technology leadership and energy security is a decisive factor in its success," she said.

China is refining its policy framework to sustain this momentum and ensure seamless integration across the energy value chain.

President Xi emphasized that China should promote major breakthroughs in green and low-carbon technologies and boost the development of hydrogen energy technology and its large-scale application.

The National Energy Administration has vowed to continuously coordinate hydrogen development under the framework of a new energy system, guiding the industry to link with large-scale wind and solar bases, as well as with the electricity, nuclear and coal sectors.

"We will promote the construction of national and provincial-level R&D platforms and continue to explore pathways for hydrogen to synergize with green electricity certificates and carbon market mechanisms," said Bian, from the administration.

The Energy Law implemented last year officially included hydrogen in China's energy management framework, highlighting the chemical element's huge development potential and large-scale application scenarios.

By the end of 2025, China had successfully established demonstration projects for "green hydrogen" in regions such as the Inner Mongolia and Ningxia Hui autonomous regions.

Advancements in high-pressure gaseous and liquid hydrogen storage, alongside the development of long-distance pipelines, have addressed logistical bottlenecks. These breakthroughs are providing essential support for the decarbonization of heavy industries such as steelmaking and chemical production.

As the industry matures, experts project that by 2030, the market scale of China's hydrogen energy industry will exceed 1 trillion yuan ($147 billion).

Jemelkova, the Hydrogen Council CEO, expressed strong optimism following discussions regarding China's 15th Five-Year Plan for hydrogen development.

"I look forward to seeing deeper collaboration between Chinese and international companies," she said. "The opportunities for global partnership in this field are vast."