Second Green Hydrogen Industry Innovation Development Conference 2025 Held in Nanjing, Focusing on Future Opportunities and Technological Advancements

On April 23, 2025, the “Second Green Hydrogen Industry Innovation and Development Conference” was grandly held in Nanjing, co-hosted by Polar Star Power Network and the Beijing Carbon Neutrality Society. This year’s conference was themed “Sharing New Opportunities in Green Energy, Co-creating a New Future in the Green Hydrogen Era,” attracting representatives from national and local government departments, energy power groups, hydrogen equipment manufacturing companies, research institutions, and financial organizations.

The conference focused on key topics such as hydrogen energy policy guidance, opportunities for green hydrogen development, hydrogen station construction, technological innovation in the industrial chain, and the expansion of application scenarios, contributing wisdom and strength to the development of the hydrogen energy sector.

Jiang Fan, the chairman of the Beijing Carbon Neutrality Society, delivered the opening speech. He highlighted that green hydrogen, as the ultimate carrier of clean energy, is a key solution to the challenges of renewable energy consumption and achieving deep decarbonization. Currently, the global energy structure is undergoing rapid transformation, and the application of green hydrogen in industries, transportation, and construction is showing strong diversified development trends. Data indicates that by 2060, China’s hydrogen energy demand will exceed 100 million tons, with green hydrogen accounting for over 80% of that demand.

The Beijing Carbon Neutrality Society was officially established in 2023, initiated by the Beijing Energy Group in collaboration with North China Electric Power University and Beijing University of Technology. It aims to unite academicians, experts, universities, leading companies, and high-tech firms to form an academic social organization. The society has established long-term strategic partnerships with many domestic universities, high-tech companies, and carbon trading institutions, launching a series of influential brand activities and academic forums. They have collected numerous advanced green and low-carbon technologies and typical cases, conducted discussions on large-scale hydrogen storage technology, and implemented research on green electricity for hydrogen production and ammonia synthesis.

Zhou Quan, president of Polar Star, mentioned in his speech that under the dual drivers of policy and technology, China’s green hydrogen industry is experiencing explosive growth. On one hand, policies are promoting the planned development of green hydrogen in key sectors such as energy, shipping, and chemicals, enabling high-carbon, energy-intensive industries to transform. On the other hand, major technological routes for green hydrogen are continuously evolving, with the domestic replacement of PEM electrolyzers accelerating and significantly reducing costs while improving efficiency.

Xiong Hua-wen, director of the Energy Environment Center at the National Development and Reform Commission’s Energy Research Institute, pointed out during the conference that the green ammonia and methanol industries in China are developing rapidly. The total production capacity of green ammonia projects under construction is about 80 tons per year, mainly located in resource-rich areas of North China, Northwest China, and Northeast China. In terms of planning, the proposed capacity for green ammonia is expected to reach 8 million tons per year, accounting for over 10% of the total synthetic ammonia production capacity in the country, which corresponds to an annual demand for green hydrogen of approximately 1.4 million tons. Additionally, in the green low-carbon methanol sector, the capacity under construction is 300,000 tons per year, with planned capacity reaching 10 million tons per year, expected to drive an annual demand for green hydrogen of 1.5 million tons. The combined potential annual demand for green hydrogen from ammonia and methanol alone is approaching 3 million tons, showcasing the vast market space and development potential in the green hydrogen sector.

He Guangli, chief hydrogen expert at the National Energy Group, shared insights on the current status and challenges of domestic alkaline water electrolysis hydrogen production technology. He proposed paths for improving the performance and technology of alkaline electrolysis based on practical experience. He also introduced the Low Carbon Institute’s efforts to build a national-level hydrogen innovation platform and a source of original technologies in the hydrogen field, focusing on three main application scenarios: coupling hydrogen with coal chemical processes, heavy-duty transportation, and hydrogen storage. Key technical directions include the production of green hydrogen (and ammonia), liquid hydrogen production and supply, hydrogen safety, and detection technologies. They are developing next-generation alkaline electrolyzers, mild condition ammonia synthesis, hydrogen liquefaction, rapid refueling machines, and 90MPa compressors to advance hydrogen research and applications.

Wang Yongliang, an executive director and first batch of specially invited experts at the China Energy Research Association, noted that the hydrogen energy industry faces three major challenges: first, the cost competitiveness; green hydrogen prices are significantly higher than those from traditional hydrogen production methods; second, prominent technical bottlenecks exist that require balancing energy, material, and financial considerations, particularly addressing the low volumetric energy density of hydrogen in mobile scenarios; and third, there is a lack of patient capital, as most investors seek short-term returns, contrasting with the long-cycle nature of hydrogen energy. Wang emphasized the need for the industry to focus on large-scale application scenarios, validate technological feasibility through scaling, and construct an ecosystem integrating government, industry, academia, research, and application.

In terms of the green fuel transition, he proposed that adjusting the carbon-hydrogen ratio is a core pathway. For example, aviation fuel (SAF) can achieve a green alternative by blending hydrogen to reduce carbon content. Additionally, catalyst technology (balancing activity, stability, and economy) is currently a key focus, necessitating accelerated breakthroughs through cooperation between industry, academia, and research. He suggested that the industry should rely on advantageous industrial parks and other quality scenarios to reduce costs and improve efficiency, while policies should align with the “14th Five-Year Plan” for electrification and marketization, maintaining strategic resolve and seeking progress in stability while respecting industry development laws to avoid overheating.

Zhang Chunyan, deputy general manager of State Grid Shanghai Comprehensive Energy Service Co., Ltd., shared thoughts on the electric-hydrogen collaborative integrated energy system in the development of the new power system. He believes that electric-hydrogen synergy, starting with green hydrogen, will serve as a bridge connecting the electric energy system with industries and transportation, becoming a core engine for energy transformation. The key issues for electric-hydrogen collaboration currently lie in breakthroughs in core technologies for the production, storage, transfer, and utilization of green hydrogen. The value of electric-hydrogen synergy is to construct a new energy system centered on electricity and connected by hydrogen, facilitating the consumption of new energy and supporting the growing flexibility needs of the power system, as well as penetrating energy systems that require further deep decarbonization.

Electric-hydrogen integration should achieve three synergies: source-side synergy, involving renewable energy electrolyzing water for hydrogen production, coal power blending with hydrogen/ammonia transformation, and efficient CCS with rich oxygen combustion; grid-side synergy, where electric-hydrogen networks complement each other to construct a long-duration hydrogen storage system across time and space; and load-side synergy, such as combining with nitrogen and carbon dioxide to produce green ammonia/methanol/methane, along with new application scenarios like zero-carbon parks, zero-carbon factories, and deep decarbonization in industries and transportation. Zhang Chunyan suggested that future electric-hydrogen collaboration should plan the industry layout rationally, promote the scientific development of the green hydrogen industry, strengthen top-level design, advance planning for electric-hydrogen collaboration, avoid simple integration, insist on innovation-driven approaches, ensure the safety, efficiency, and flexibility of electric-hydrogen technology research and development, and enhance mechanisms and standards to foster multi-scenario demonstration applications and improve the policy ecosystem.

The Dongzhou team from China Electric Power Construction Group’s Hebei Electric Power Survey and Design Research Institute pointed out that hydrogen energy possesses multiple strategic values and application scenarios in the new power system. As an efficient energy storage medium, hydrogen can smooth out fluctuations in wind and solar power, achieving cross-temporal and spatial transfer of abandoned wind and solar energy through water electrolysis for hydrogen production. As a flexible adjustment resource, hydrogen engines’ rapid peak-shaving capabilities and distributed deployment of hydrogen fuel cells can enhance grid resilience. In the low-carbon transition, the hydrogen-electric coupling model and the establishment of zero-carbon parks have already demonstrated effectiveness. The primary challenge to the large-scale application of hydrogen energy currently lies in its economic viability; the key materials for water electrolysis depend on imports, storage and transportation technologies have yet to break through, and the cost of green hydrogen is as high as 20-25 yuan per kilogram, which needs to be reduced to below 15 yuan to be competitive. Furthermore, the investment in hydrogen energy infrastructure is substantial, and the business model remains immature, necessitating policy guidance and collaborative market mechanisms.

Feng Wujun, deputy secretary-general of the Beijing Carbon Neutrality Society, shared the challenges and countermeasures faced by the hydrogen energy industry’s high-quality development. He believes that high-quality development should start from the scientific positioning in the medium- and long-term development plan for hydrogen energy, expanding from four major innovative ideas: systematically planning chain links, top-level design of application scenarios, ensuring core products are self-controllable, and achieving integrated innovation breakthroughs in energy and carbon. A systematic approach should be adopted to scientifically advance the research and development of infrastructure and equipment across the entire hydrogen production, storage, transportation, and utilization chain. In the hydrogen production phase, innovations in multiple technical routes such as water electrolysis, biomass, seawater, and nuclear reaction heat should be encouraged; in the storage and transportation phase, long-distance, large-scale storage and transportation of hydrogen should rely on blending hydrogen into natural gas pipelines or constructing pure hydrogen pipelines, and the existing petroleum pipeline networks in refining zones should be leveraged for organic liquid hydrogen storage and transportation. For mid- and short-distance applications, a combination of various storage and transportation technologies such as ammonia should be developed based on regional conditions. The application phase should actively explore application scenarios, promoting key research and applications in areas such as blending hydrogen into urban natural gas, hydrogen gas turbines, high-proportion hydrogen combustion transformations in gas engine units, hydrogen-fueled gas engines, and green methanol.

Hou Jingxin, senior manager of China Shipbuilding (Handan) Hydrogen Energy Technology Co., Ltd., believes that the overall performance of PEM water electrolysis hydrogen production equipment surpasses that of alkaline hydrogen production equipment, but cost remains a core bottleneck. However, recent bidding situations indicate that the price of megawatt-level PEM equipment has already decreased to about three times that of alkaline equipment. As one of the early domestic companies with both alkaline and PEM pathways, Parey Hydrogen has established a production capacity of 3.5 GW. They have achieved a single hydrogen production capacity leap to 3000 Nm³/h and realized commercial delivery, successfully bringing third-generation water electrolysis hydrogen production technology (AEM) to the market. Last year, they secured new orders worth 900 million yuan in overseas business, all thanks to their focus on high-quality development and independent innovation to maintain core competitiveness.

Qi Kui from Hubei Yinteli Electric Co., Ltd. shared a keynote presentation titled “Integrated Digital Platform for Wind and Solar Hydrogen Storage and Hydrogen Production Power Solutions.” He pointed out that whether in large-scale renewable energy hydrogen production scenarios that emphasize overall coupling or distributed integrated off-grid hydrogen production scenarios, there are issues such as the difficulty of traditional energy dispatch technologies to effectively support the coupling of renewable energy fluctuations with hydrogen production, and the conflict between energy balance and system stability required for clustered large-scale production. Current equipment and systems struggle to match the characteristics of renewable energy in the short term, becoming one of the challenges impacting industry development. Qi Kui believes that the hydrogen energy industry is a typical multidisciplinary integration industry, requiring solutions that differ from traditional sectors. As a leading rectifier power supply enterprise in the hydrogen production industry, Yinteli’s developed InGreen Ecs Green Hydrogen System focuses on off-grid stability, energy balance, and production clustering control. Its production clustering control strategy, based on a multi-objective strategy’s full-time model characteristics, can help users achieve global system coupling. Currently, Yinteli’s wind-solar-hydrogen storage integrated digital platform (InGreen Ecs) has been applied in various off-grid hydrogen production projects from wind and solar sources, receiving extensive client recognition.

During the conference, Luo Shichun, vice president of Hydrogen Maple Group, emphasized the core advantages of magnesium-based solid-state hydrogen storage technology and its integrated solution for production, storage, transportation, and refueling. The magnesium-based solid-state hydrogen storage technology of Hydrogen Maple allows for safe storage and transportation at normal temperature and pressure, eliminating high-pressure leakage risks. The modular 20-foot hydrogen storage tank has a storage capacity of up to 1 ton and can flexibly expand its capacity, possessing both large-scale and long-duration hydrogen storage capabilities. The hydrogen absorption and release process produces no by-products, with hydrogen purity reaching 99.999%. This technology is applicable in hydrogen energy storage, medium to long-distance hydrogen transport, and various scenarios in metallurgy and chemicals, particularly in coupling scenarios for wind and solar hydrogen production, addressing renewable energy volatility through large-scale, long-duration hydrogen storage.

Chen Yuwei, secretary of the Party branch and general manager of Ammonia Bond Technology Co., Ltd., shared the successful experience of the Anhui Energy Group’s coal power blending ammonia carbon reduction demonstration project. He pointed out that the national policy “Action Plan for Low-Carbon Transformation and Construction of Coal Power (2024-2027)” lists green ammonia blending as one of the three transformation and construction methods, providing strong support for carbon reduction in coal power while absorbing renewable energy. This ammonia blending carbon reduction demonstration project is the first to complete engineering demonstration of ammonia combustion technology in coal-fired units by Anhui Energy Group, selected as a significant technical equipment for the energy sector by the National Energy Administration, serving as a model for ammonia blending carbon reduction projects across the country. The project features three core technologies: the successful development of kW-level plasma ammonia cracking combustors, high-power pure ammonia burners, and dual-medium ultra-large capacity liquid ammonia evaporators. Chen Yuwei emphasized that ammonia blending in coal power can reduce carbon emissions, enhance renewable energy absorption capacity, and promote the decarbonization of energy systems. Its industrial path can focus on replacing auxiliary oil guns in waste incineration power plants and supplementing fuel in natural gas boilers, further promoting renewable energy absorption as ammonia blending technology is applied in more fields, supporting China’s dual carbon strategy goals.

Lin Gang, founder of Shanghai Mofan Power Technology Co., Ltd., introduced that hydrogen and ammonia, as fuels, have significant advantages in terms of transportation maturity, energy density, and global trade adaptability. However, the core challenge lies in the “ammonia-to-electricity” stage, which previously lacked large-scale application. Mofan Power has developed the world’s first dry low-nitrogen burner compatible with hydrogen, ammonia, and natural gas without requiring hardware modifications, covering a power range from kilowatts to tens of megawatts, and supporting various hydrogen carriers, including high-pressure hydrogen, liquid hydrogen, organic liquid hydrogen storage, and industrial by-product hydrogen, providing a key technological pathway for carbon neutrality. Their core product, the hydrogen-ammonia gas turbine, achieves a power output of 8000 kW and simultaneously produces 18 tons/hour of steam, featuring a compact structure and high fuel flexibility, with high and low pressure electrical skids that can be deployed independently or integrated. This technology combines zero-carbon turbine generation/driving capability, enabling the recovery of industrial waste heat and pressure, supporting green power supply in parks and peak shaving for wind and solar power, while the hydrogen-based energy storage system provides an economic solution for long-duration energy storage.

Zhang Weijia, regional market director of the Advanced Hydrogen Production Business Group at National Hydrogen Technology, shared insights on the outlook for the green hydrogen industry and the innovative practices of National Hydrogen Technology. She believes that green hydrogen is a key direction for hydrogen energy development, with enormous potential and a broad industrial outlook. As the first central state-owned enterprise secondary unit specializing in hydrogen energy, National Hydrogen Technology actively responds to national strategic needs with a 1+2 business layout (fully autonomous core technologies + “Hydrogen Teng” fuel cell product line and “Hydrogen Yong” PEM water electrolysis product line), promoting the development of the green hydrogen industry. The “Hydrogen Teng” fuel cell product line includes water-cooled fuel cells, air-cooled fuel cells, and power generation fuel cells, primarily applied in urban passenger transport, heavy cargo transport, shipping, drones, forklifts, backup power sources, and distributed energy supply. The “Hydrogen Yong” PEM water electrolysis product line has achieved the first domestic PEM integrated hydrogen refueling station and the largest green hydrogen synthesis and green ammonia innovative demonstration project in the country.

The “Hydrogen Yong Smart Hydrogen Island” integrated solution for green hydrogen-based energy relies on a digital platform that merges intelligent computation, decision support, and cluster control, as well as small, medium, and large high-performance PEM water electrolysis equipment. This platform has the capability for comprehensive implementation of hydrogen production business solutions across all scenarios. As a leading enterprise in China’s hydrogen energy sector that has achieved material-level autonomous production, National Hydrogen Technology will continue to play a leading and demonstrative role as a central state-owned enterprise, actively collaborating with upstream and downstream partners to build a hydrogen energy industry ecosystem.

Li Ying, market director of Qingqiji Group, stated that as a full-chain green hydrogen enterprise covering catalysts, bipolar plates, electrolyzers, and system integration, Qingqiji focuses on the core material technology innovation and large-scale application of alkaline electrolyzers. Currently, in the three core materials of alkaline electrolyzers—catalysts, bipolar plates, and membranes—the nickel-based multi-alloy catalyst sector is exhibiting a “hundred flowers blooming” trend, while bipolar plates need breakthroughs in lightweight, corrosion resistance, and structural optimization, and membranes are anticipated to undergo practical verification in large electrolyzers. To address industry pain points, Qingqiji combines the material-process-application innovation of nickel-based non-precious metal multi-alloy catalysts, alongside an electrochemical workstation and multi-stage testing platform to select optimal solutions, successfully completing the last mile from R&D to production and verifying key properties such as the resistance to reverse current and load strength of hydrogen catalysts. Qingqiji Group has established an annual production capacity of 2 GW for electrolyzers in Gansu Jiuquan and 100,000 bipolar plates in Jiangsu Changzhou. These technological achievements have been successfully applied in large-scale commercial projects by state-owned enterprises, achieving the best results in the industry and providing reliable technical support for large-scale hydrogen production projects. She emphasized that the next generation of electrolyzers should focus on inherent safety and off-grid hydrogen production, enhancing the corrosion resistance and current impact tolerance of catalysts, bipolar plates, and membranes to build a highly stable system, driving the large-scale development of green hydrogen.

Li Yan, a senior researcher at Shanghai Hydrogen Equipment Technology Co., Ltd., shared a theme titled “Core Equipment and System Solutions for Green Hydrogen by Shanghai Electric.” The company primarily focuses on green hydrogen production equipment and extends into the entire hydrogen energy industry chain of “production, storage, refueling, and utilization,” providing high-end green hydrogen equipment and comprehensive hydrogen utilization systems for global customers. The “ALK+PEM” dual-line hydrogen production layout is one of Shanghai Hydrogen Equipment Technology Co., Ltd.’s advantages: the new generation of kilowatt-level Z series alkaline electrolyzers achieves significant improvements in performance and stability without using precious metal electrodes and composite membranes, breaking through the limitations of traditional alkaline electrolyzer designs. The PEM water electrolysis products feature high current density, high reliability, and low energy consumption, making them more suitable for distributed and flexible hydrogen production scenarios. To ensure product stability and reliability, the company has established material-level basic performance testing, overall structural testing at the tank level, and full-power hydrogen-electric coupling testing platforms, as well as multifunctional testing and verification platforms for ALK (10 MW) and PEM (1.5 MW). Currently, the company has built an integrated solution system covering the entire green hydrogen industry chain, creating multiple typical hydrogen energy projects amid the global clean energy transition, and accumulating rich practical experience and technical reserves through diversified scenarios like projects in France, the integrated green hydrogen-ammonia project by China Energy Construction, and the biomass green methanol demonstration project in Tainanshi.

Zhang Wenhui, general manager of the Market and Risk Management Department at DNV GL (China) Ltd., emphasized that due to its small molecular weight, wide flammability range, low ignition energy, and rapid combustion speed, hydrogen energy facilities pose higher potential risks than oil and gas facilities. Research indicates that the probability of hydrogen leakage is approximately three times that of natural gas, and once leaked, it is more easily ignited, posing substantial threats to personnel and facilities. Zhang Wenhui pointed out that current safety standards, such as the 4.5-meter explosion-proof area outside factory buildings, may be insufficient. Redefining explosion-proof zones using quantitative simulation technologies could be more scientific, and it is recommended to adopt mature explosion-proof wall designs and pipeline layout optimizations from the petrochemical industry to enhance safety levels. Special precautions should be taken against indoor leakage diffusion risks and secondary disasters such as fireballs and thermal radiation resulting from high-pressure pipeline ruptures. Through scientific risk simulations and transparent management, public confidence in hydrogen energy applications can be enhanced, but the industry must increase investment in safety technologies and strengthen public education on hydrogen energy risks to promote large-scale, safe deployment.

Professor Wang Zhe from the Shanghai Hydrogen Utilization Engineering Technology Research Center and Tongji University shared the current status, challenges, and opportunities facing the global green hydrogen market. He believes that clean electricity-driven electrolysis technology is crucial in both the short and long term. As part of a long-term vision, clean hydrogen can also be produced through various new advanced methods, such as solar photoelectrochemical hydrogen production technology and biological hydrogen production technology, alleviating the investment pressure of needing GW-level electrolysis facilities and significantly expanding clean power generation and transmission infrastructure. From the perspective of the green hydrogen market, global low-emission hydrogen production is estimated to be around 700,000 tons in 2023, potentially reaching 49 million tons per year by 2030, with approximately two-thirds of low-emission hydrogen production coming from water electrolysis; this proportion may rise to nearly 75% when including projects in early development stages.

During the conference, the awarding ceremony for the “2025 Polar Star Cup” Hydrogen Energy Influence Enterprises commenced grandly. Nearly a hundred companies in the hydrogen energy industry chain competed through multiple rounds of technological challenges, resulting in over 40 benchmark enterprises receiving accolades. These industry pioneers, driven by innovation and solidified by technology, have overcome barriers in core technical challenges and commercial exploration, earning the “2025 Polar Star Cup” awards for Hydrogen Energy Industry Influence, Hydrogen Energy Technology Innovation, and Hydrogen Energy Excellent Practices. The award-winning enterprises break industry constraints with robust technology, injecting strong momentum into the hydrogen energy efficiency revolution and the overall upgrade of the industry. This honor not only embodies the innovative wisdom arising from deep collaborations between industry, academia, and research but also signifies China’s historical leap from a follower to a leader in hydrogen energy.

The list of award-winning enterprises is as follows (in no particular order): Green Hydrogen Green Energy.