The transformation and development of the chemical industry are seeing a surge of interest in hydrogen energy

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The chemical industry’s transformation and development are seeing growing interest in hydrogen energy. Author/Source: Sinochem New Network Date: July 8, 2020 Clicks: 5. Various regions have issued plans for the development of hydrogen energy. Following the inclusion of hydrogen energy in the category of energy sources as specified in the “Energy Law of the People’s Republic of China (Draft for Comments),” regions such as Sichuan, Guangdong, Ningxia, Jiangsu, Anhui, Hebei, Henan, and Shandong have also recently introduced plans or policies for the development of the hydrogen energy industry. Industry experts believe that the current enthusiasm for hydrogen energy across various regions presents new opportunities for the transformation and development of the chemical industry. Hydrogen produced from coal and hydrogen generated as a by-product of chemical processes hold great potential, and chemical companies have broad prospects for investing in the development and utilization of hydrogen on a downstream level. 　　It is understood that according to the hydrogen energy plan issued by Jiangsu Province, more than 50 hydrogen refueling stations are to be built across the province by 2025. The \"Foshan Nanhai District Hydrogen Energy Industry Development Plan (2020–2035)\\" issued in February this year sets a target of achieving a total industrial output value of 30 billion yuan for the hydrogen energy industry by 2025. In May this year, Xinxiang City in Henan Province issued a Development Plan for the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Industry, emphasizing that during the third phase of market expansion (2026–2030), 2–3 leading enterprises at the national level should be established, the annual output value of the hydrogen and fuel cell industry chain should exceed 50 billion yuan, and 40–50 hydrogen refueling stations should be built. 　　“As a major economic and energy province along the eastern coast, Shandong has a solid foundation and advantages in developing the hydrogen industry. Shandong has a wide range of hydrogen sources; industries such as chlor-alkali and coking generate abundant hydrogen as a by-product, while fossil fuels offer significant advantages in terms of hydrogen production scale. ”Guan Zhaoquan, deputy director of the Shandong Provincial Development and Reform Commission, said. According to preliminary estimates by relevant agencies, Shandong Province currently produces around 2.6 million tons of hydrogen per year, ranking first in the country. Most of this hydrogen is produced as a by-product of industrial processes; it has good quality and a low price, giving it cost advantages for large-scale use. 　　The \"Medium- and Long-Term Development Plan for the Hydrogen Energy Industry in Shandong Province (2020–2030)\\" issued last month proposes that, taking advantage of Shandong Province’s resources and its strengths in the chemical industry, efforts should be made to develop devices for purifying hydrogen produced as a by-product of industrial processes. At the same time, basic infrastructure projects will be carried out to make full use of hydrogen generated as a by-product in industries such as chlor-alkali, propane, and coal chemical processing within the province. Purification technologies will be optimized to improve the quality of hydrogen, and the recovery rate of this by-product hydrogen will be increased, thereby gradually reducing the cost of using hydrogen. Hydrogen energy is regarded as an important means to achieve the transformation of old and new growth drivers in Shandong Province; efforts are being made to develop hydrogen purification technologies, thereby driving the continuous transformation and upgrading of traditional industries such as steel and chemicals, and facilitating high-quality development. 　　Yang Chunsong, a senior advisor at the Shandong Province Fertilizer and Coal Chemical Industry Association, said that fertilizer manufacturers have a natural connection to hydrogen; the off-gases from ammonia synthesis and methanol production are important sources for hydrogen recovery, and the relevant technologies are mature with low costs. Fertilizer companies currently need to undergo transformation and upgrading urgently, and hydrogen production technology represents the core competitive advantage for nitrogen fertilizer firms; those with the necessary resources can shift their focus to investing in other applications of hydrogen energy. 　　Among the list of the first batch of major hydrogen industry demonstration and pilot projects in Shandong Province for the 14th Five-Year Plan period, released alongside the plan, are the industrial by-product hydrogen purification projects carried out by Jinneng Chemistry (Qingdao) Co., Ltd. and Zibo Qixiang Tengda Chemical Co., Ltd. 　　In addition to chemical enterprises in Shandong, those in other provinces are also developing hydrogen energy projects. The listed company Aerospace Engineering recently issued a statement announcing its intention to invest in the establishment of Aerospace Hydrogen Energy Co., Ltd., in order to make full use of its technological advantages in the clean and efficient utilization of coal, and to further advance the industrialization of hydrogen technology in this sector. 　　“We are trying to develop industries related to hydrogen energy, including hydrogen purification, the construction of hydrogen refueling stations, and the sale of industrial hydrogen. ”Zhu Zhuangrui, General Manager of Yangmei Chemical Co., Ltd., explained.