3 hydrogen energy policies released in Shaanxi Province! 10,000 hydrogen vehicles! A hundred hydrogen refueling stations! Several 10,000-tonne-scale vehicle hydrogen plants!

I. Planning Background (1) Development Situation. On the international stage, the world’s major developed countries attach great importance to the development of the hydrogen energy industry; this industry has become an important strategic option for accelerating the transformation and upgrading of energy sources and fostering new points of economic growth. Currently, the key core technologies across the entire hydrogen industry chain worldwide are becoming more mature. Fuel cell shipments are increasing rapidly while costs continue to decline. The construction of hydrogen infrastructure is accelerating, and regional hydrogen supply networks are being developed at an faster pace. Domestically, the hydrogen energy industry has entered a phase of commercial development; pilot projects for fuel cell vehicles and the construction of hydrogen infrastructure have taken shape in certain regions, giving rise to leading hydrogen energy development areas such as the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Pearl River Delta, and the Yangtze River Delta. By the end of 2020, the number of fuel cell vehicles in China exceeded 8,000, with over 80 hydrogen refueling stations already in operation; another 50 were under construction, and more than 100 were scheduled to be built ； It is estimated that by 2025, the scale of China’s hydrogen energy industry will reach 1 trillion yuan, with around 50,000 hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in use. Overall, the hydrogen energy industry in our province is still in its early stages of development. Although it boasts advantages such as available resources and applicable use cases, there is still a certain gap compared to the advanced levels seen internationally and domestically; thus, both opportunities and challenges coexist. First, the hydrogen energy industry chain is still not fully developed; there is an urgent need to strengthen it in areas such as storage and transportation, refueling, and fuel cells ； Second, infrastructure development is lagging behind, with a lack of overall plans and management policies for infrastructure ； Third, the market vitality for the development of hydrogen energy is weak, and a development model led by enterprises needs to be established. Currently, the world’s major economies are accelerating the development of the hydrogen energy industry, with plans and relevant support policies introduced in both the Pearl River Delta and the Yangtze River Delta regions. To develop the hydrogen energy industry and build a modern energy industry framework, our province urgently needs to enhance top-level planning and coordinated strategy-making, strengthen technological reserves in this sector, and focus more on its weaknesses. By leveraging advantages in resources and application scenarios, we can gather the necessary elements for development, accelerate the improvement and expansion of related industries, and create a new landscape for the growth of the hydrogen energy industry characterized by proactive and collaborative development.

(II) Development foundation. As a major energy province, Shaanxi boasts rich resource advantages, a well-developed industrial infrastructure, unique application scenarios, and a strong foundation in science and education for the development of the hydrogen industry. 1. Hydrogen resources are abundant. The province produces over 2 million tons of hydrogen as a by-product of chemical manufacturing each year, with about 200,000 tons of this being high-quality hydrogen. The cost of hydrogen for end-use applications within a radius of 200 kilometers is less than 35 yuan per kilogram. It is estimated that by the end of the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the installed capacity of wind and solar power generation across the province will reach around 60 million kilowatts, while the potential production capacity for green hydrogen will be about 80,000 tons per year, providing ample resources to support the development of the hydrogen energy industry. 2. Complete industrial supporting facilities. Samsung and Shaanxi Coal Research Institute possess the capability to produce power battery systems ； Faste and others can provide electric drive systems ； Companies such as Yanchang, Shaanxi Gas Turbine, the Sixth Academy of Aerospace, Western Materials, and Northwestern Polytechnical University are capable of producing fuel cells and their components ； Shaanxi Auto Group, Qinxing Automobile, and others possess the capability to develop and produce fuel cell vehicles ； Companies such as Huaqin New Energy, Longi Hydrogen Energy, Hanhai Hydrogen Energy, and Fengqi Technology possess the capabilities to produce green hydrogen as well as to develop and manufacture equipment for hydrogen storage; thus, the hydrogen industry chain in the province is relatively complete. 3. Unique application scenarios. In northern Shaanxi, there are a large number of fuel and gas-powered trucks used for transporting energy and chemical products. The unique conditions of extreme cold and heavy loads associated with short-distance transport make it an ideal environment for fuel cell trucks. Replacing fuel and gas-powered trucks with fuel cell trucks can help reduce transportation-related carbon emissions and contribute to the development of green mining areas (industrial parks). Furthermore, leveraging the high demand for intercity logistics transportation between the energy supply center in northern Shaanxi and the Guanzhong urban agglomeration, hydrogen-based logistics transportation holds good prospects for development. 4. Strong strength in science and education. The province has nearly a hundred universities and almost a thousand various research institutions ； Universities such as Xi’an Jiaotong University and Northwestern Polytechnical University possess strong research and development capabilities in areas such as photocatalytic hydrogen production, water electrolysis for hydrogen production, advanced hydrogen storage materials, and solid-state hydrogen storage ； The Pipe Research Institute of CNPC has developed a comprehensive technical framework in the field of gaseous hydrogen storage materials ； Yanchang Petroleum Group and Shaanxi Coal and Chemical Industry Group have established specialized technical R&D centers that can provide strong scientific support for the development of the hydrogen energy industry.

II. General Requirements (1) Guiding Principles. Guided by **Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era**, we will fully implement the spirit of the Party’s * and all plenary sessions of the 19th Central Committee, earnestly carry out the important speeches and directives given by **** during his visits to Shaanxi. We will comprehensively, accurately, and thoroughly apply the new development philosophy, implement the new energy security strategy of “four revolutions and one cooperation,” focus on achieving the goals of carbon peak and carbon neutrality, strive to seize opportunities in the development of future industries, coordinate industrial layout, improve management systems, enhance technological and equipment capabilities, accelerate infrastructure construction, and gradually increase the share of hydrogen energy in the energy consumption structure. In this way, we aim to turn the hydrogen energy industry into a new driving force for upgrading traditional energy and chemical industries and promoting the green and low-carbon transformation of the province’s energy sector. (II) Basic principles. 1. Coordinate planning with safety as a top priority. Adhere to systematic thinking, avoid homogeneous competition and low-quality development, and through comprehensive planning, foster an industrial development landscape characterized by regional coordinated growth and organic integration between upstream and downstream sectors. Safety should be regarded as an inherent requirement for the development of the hydrogen energy industry; sound safety systems and standards should be established, safety risk management should be strengthened, to ensure that the use of hydrogen energy is safe and under control. 2. Innovation-driven, with key breakthroughs. Adhere to innovation-driven development, and by combining various approaches such as introduction-based innovation, independent innovation, and integrated innovation, overcome key technical bottlenecks and build core competitive advantages in technology. Increase efforts in application innovation and the integration of business models to build a hydrogen energy application ecosystem with internal vitality. 3. Market-led, **guided. Fully leverage the decisive role of the market in resource allocation, stimulate the initiative of various market entities, and build a hydrogen economy market characterized by free flow of factors and driven by market demand. Give full play to **the role of incentives, support, and services for industrial development, in order to create a favorable environment for growth. 4. Demonstration and leadership, integrated development. Coordinate the overall planning of hydrogen energy supply, industrial infrastructure, and market potential; carry out technological innovation and application demonstrations in the field of hydrogen energy in an orderly manner, to avoid a rush to engage in this area ； Explore the integrated development of hydrogen energy with renewable energy and the refining industry, as well as its use as an energy substitute in transportation, to promote carbon reduction and elimination in production processes.

(III) Overall objectives. By 2025, a policy environment framework for the development of hydrogen energy will have been largely established; hydrogen fuel cells will be developed and produced within the province, significant progress will have been made in their demonstration applications, and a relatively complete supply chain and industrial ecosystem will have been put in place. Several hydrogen production facilities capable of producing 10,000 tons per year each will be established, along with around 100 hydrogen refueling stations. The goal is to promote the use of about 10,000 fuel cell vehicles of various types. A number of projects for producing hydrogen from renewable energy sources will also come online. The technology related to green hydrogen production equipment, hydrogen storage and transportation equipment, and fuel cell vehicles will reach advanced levels in China. Hydrogen will find applications in the metallurgy and chemical industries, with the overall scale of this industry reaching over 100 billion yuan. By 2030, the province will have a relatively complete industrial technology innovation system for hydrogen energy, as well as a system for the production and supply of green hydrogen. The large-scale use of hydrogen produced from renewable energy will play a key role in helping to achieve the goal of carbon peak emissions.

III. Development Path and Spatial Layout (1) Development path. Starting from the goal of supporting the achievement of carbon peak and carbon neutrality, focusing on developing and strengthening the hydrogen energy industry chain, and emphasizing technological breakthroughs and industrial development, it leverages its resource advantages to attract enterprises to gather, creates a platform for hydrogen energy transportation operations, promotes the coordinated development of hydrogen fuel and hydrogen raw materials, and builds a hydrogen energy industry ecosystem with Shaanxi’s unique characteristics. In terms of hydrogen production. Improve the capacity for supplying hydrogen to automotive applications, and establish provincial-level hydrogen supply hubs in Yulin, Weinan, Xianyang, and other areas. Vigorously develop the green hydrogen equipment manufacturing industry, and support the research and development of advanced technologies such as hydrogen production via water electrolysis and photoelectric coupling. In terms of storage, transportation, and refueling. Following the principles of \"overall planning, rational layout, phased implementation, and prioritizing urgent needs,\" storage, transportation, and refueling infrastructure is developed in support of demonstration applications. Promote social capital investment in hydrogen refueling stations through various methods such as mixed-model station construction. Priority support will be given to demonstration applications of liquid hydrogen storage, solid hydrogen storage, and pipeline hydrogen transport, with efforts made to facilitate the implementation of related enterprise projects. In terms of hydrogen energy applications. Actively introduce leading companies in the fuel cell industry, and develop local supporting industries such as key materials, components, system integration, and testing technologies, in order to strengthen the entire vehicle manufacturing sector ； Efforts are being made to develop a hydrogen energy transportation operation platform, in order to achieve large-scale demonstration of the use of hydrogen-powered trucks in applications such as short-distance transport and intercity logistics. The use of hydrogen energy in areas like urban public transportation, logistics delivery, municipal operations, and building cooling and heating is also being encouraged ； Actively expand demonstration projects for the application of hydrogen as a raw material in areas such as hydrogen-based metallurgy, green hydrogen-based refining, and hydrogen blending in thermal power generation.

(II) Spatial layout. Based on the distribution of hydrogen resources and scientific and technological innovation resources in our province, as well as taking into account the industrial foundations and development priorities of various cities, we will follow the principles of rational layout, distinct focuses, and coordinated development to create a hydrogen energy development framework characterized by \"one core for leadership, two axes for connection, and three hubs for support.\" Led by a core initiative, this approach relies on the Xixian New Area to establish a core zone for the fuel cell industry in our province. Leveraging the resource aggregation advantages of the Qinchuangyuan Innovation-driven Platform, as well as the industrial support systems and investment attraction capabilities of the Xixian New Area, efforts will be accelerated to attract leading enterprises in the fuel cell sector, thereby establishing a hub for the research and development of fuel cell systems, key components, and core materials, as well as for equipment manufacturing. By connecting the two axes, it is possible to create two intercity hydrogen energy corridors: one running from Yulin to Yan’an to Xi’an, and another from Xi’an to Weinan to Hancheng. This will link the hydrogen energy consumption centers and supply centers in northern Shaanxi and the Guanzhong region, thereby establishing hydrogen energy industry clusters in Yulin, Xi’an, and Weinan that can support each other. With three key hubs, the plan aims to establish a hydrogen energy equipment R&D and manufacturing center in Guanzhong with Xi’an as its core, a hydrogen energy heavy truck equipment manufacturing and hydrogen supply and application center in northern Shaanxi with Yulin as its core, and a hydrogen energy supply and application center in Guanzhong with Weinan as its core.

IV. Key Tasks (1) Improve infrastructure and leverage existing advantages. 1. Improve hydrogen supply capacity. The northern Shaanxi region has an annual hydrogen production capacity of 80,000 tons, powered by hydrogen generated as a by-product of Yulin Lanpetrochemical’s operations and the exhaust gases from the Yan’an Petroleum refinery ； Relying on facilities such as Xianyang Changqing Petrochemical and Yanchang Xinghua, the Guanzhong region has achieved an hydrogen production capacity of 50,000 tons per year. Support companies such as Sinopec and CGN in carrying out green hydrogen demonstration project construction ； Actively explore integrated hydrogen production and hydrogenation technologies, as well as demonstration projects for the integration of distributed hydrogen production with its applications. 2. Build hydrogen energy infrastructure. Leverage large petrochemical enterprises to build an intercity hydrogen refueling backbone network, supporting demonstrations of intercity hydrogen logistics. Accelerate the establishment of hydrogen transportation operation platforms, and carry out the construction of supporting hydrogen refueling stations, combined oil-hydrogen (oil-gas-hydrogen) stations, as well as storage and transportation infrastructure. It supports entities such as Shaanxi Gas Group in carrying out demonstration projects for hydrogen energy storage and transportation, including pipeline hydrogen transport, liquid storage and transportation, and solid-state storage and transportation. Accelerate the introduction of management measures for the construction and operation of hydrogen refueling stations, and clarify the main responsibilities and regulatory duties at each stage. 3. Strengthen the safety management of hydrogen energy. In accordance with **technical standards and safety management requirements, local safety standards and regulations related to the production, transportation, and refueling of hydrogen should be formulated in a timely manner. Efforts should be made to strengthen the control of major risks, and enterprises must fulfill their responsibilities for safe production, while relevant departments must carry out their regulatory duties. Mechanisms for the production of hydrogen energy and for emergency response to accidents should also be established and improved. Projects such as Xianyang Changqing Petrochemical’s 30,000 tons per year natural gas-based hydrogen production facility, Yan’an Xinghua’s 1,000 tons per year hydrogen production plant, Xuqiangrui’s 18,000 tons per year hydrogen production facility using coke oven off-gases for purification, Hengtai New Energy’s 2,400 tons per year natural gas-based hydrogen production plant, the Weinan liquid hydrogen production base of the Sixth Academy of Aerospace, and Fengqi Technology’s Shenmu blue hydrogen project are under construction. 2. Demonstration projects for the integration of green hydrogen production with renewable energy: Support for the construction of projects such as the 150-megawatt photovoltaic-hydrogen complementary renewable energy utilization demonstration project by Xi’an Jiaotong University and China National Nuclear Corporation’s Yulin Zero-Carbon Hydrogen Energy Industrial Park, the integrated wind-solar hydrogen production demonstration project by China Energy Engineering Group in Weinan, the new energy-based power generation and hydrogen production demonstration project in Jingbian Industrial Park, and the 250-megawatt agricultural photovoltaic-hydrogen complementary and hydrogen storage demonstration project by China Guangdong Nuclear Power Group in Longxian County. 3. Infrastructure construction: Relying on the freight operation platform, several hydrogen refueling stations will be built along Yulin’s “short-distance transport” demonstration route ； Along the Baomao Expressway from Xi’an to Yulin, and the Jingkun Expressway from Xi’an to Hancheng, construction of hydrogen refueling stations is being accelerated by making use of existing service areas, with the aim of gradually establishing an intercity hydrogen refueling network ； Based on the needs of urban public transportation, logistics delivery, and municipal operations, a number of hydrogen refueling stations will be built with the support of various market entities.

(II) Develop equipment manufacturing and integrate the industrial chain. 1. Improvement in the manufacturing capacity for hydrogen production and storage and transportation equipment. We support enterprises in our province to collaborate with advanced domestic and international purification equipment manufacturers to develop large-scale hydrogen purification systems for use in vehicles, and to build up technical capabilities for producing high-purity hydrogen for vehicle use from by-product hydrogen on a scale of 100,000 tons. It supports local hydrogen equipment manufacturers in expanding the industry of electrolysis-based hydrogen production equipment. By relying on the aerospace research institutions in Shaanxi to carry out research and development on the commercialization of low-temperature liquid hydrogen storage technologies and hydrogen refueling equipment, efforts are being made to develop the industry related to hydrogen storage and refueling equipment at pressures of 35/70/103 megapascals. Strong support is provided for the implementation of projects related to the production of core materials and devices for organic liquid hydrogen storage and solid-state hydrogen storage. 2. Improvement in the manufacturing capacity for fuel cell engines. Support Xi’an and Yulin in becoming hubs for fuel cell research and development as well as equipment manufacturing across the province. Encourage support for leading enterprises under provincial ownership to develop fuel cell businesses through investment, acquisition, restructuring, collaboration, and other means ； It supports local supply chain activities for fuel cells, such as catalysts, membrane electrodes, and bipolar plates, for large provincial-owned enterprises. Vigorously foster small and medium-sized enterprises that excel in hydrogen energy equipment development, as well as enterprises that are leaders in specific manufacturing areas, to promote the professionalization and intensification of the fuel cell equipment industry. 3. Improvement in the manufacturing capacity for hydrogen energy application equipment. Vigorously promote hydrogen-powered vehicle models such as hydrogen fuel cell heavy trucks, municipal specialty vehicles and light trucks, new types of buses, and tour buses ； It supports related supporting enterprises in developing core components such as specialized transmissions, reducers, and electric drive assemblies for hydrogen fuel, thereby helping to expand and strengthen the entire fuel cell vehicle industry chain. Targeting niche markets such as military-civilian integration, emergency rescue, off-grid power supply, and special operations, efforts are being made to develop the equipment manufacturing industry for fuel cell distributed power generation, emergency power supplies, and combined heat and power systems.

(III) Drive innovation to break through in core technologies. 1. Increase efforts in advancing core technologies. Leveraging the provincial universities and research institutions, efforts are made to advance research on proton exchange membrane electrolyzers (PEMEC), solid oxide electrolyzers (SOEC), and photocatalytic hydrogen production technologies; meanwhile, partnerships with enterprises are established to develop prototype devices and implement their first-scale applications. Support provincial-owned enterprises and aerospace research institutions in Shaanxi in developing low-temperature liquid hydrogen storage and transportation technologies ； It supports high-tech enterprises within the province in carrying out technical research and development on core materials and components such as catalysts, diffusion layers, membrane electrodes, bipolar plates, and compressors ； It supports enterprises in collaborating with local research institutions to carry out joint industry-university-research efforts on solid hydrogen storage and organic liquid hydrogen storage technologies. 2. Promote collaborative innovation in the industry. Leveraging the Qinchuangyuan Innovation Drive Platform, accelerate the establishment of a hydrogen energy industry alliance to create a technology transfer pathway involving industry, academia, research, and application. Accelerate the establishment of innovation platforms such as provincial hydrogen energy engineering centers, innovation centers, technology centers, and key laboratories. Leverage the \"chain leader system\" to establish a provincial-level think tank for the hydrogen energy industry, and conduct research on development strategies and policies. Support the establishment of incubators, funds, and innovation service platforms for the hydrogen energy industry, and improve the market-based mechanisms for the circulation and transfer of patented technologies. Actively invest in the development of hydrogen energy technology and product testing platforms, as well as public service platforms, to enhance the capabilities supporting research and development. 3. Strengthen the recruitment and cultivation of innovative talents. Accelerate the implementation of a number of major projects focused on hydrogen energy technology research and development as well as demonstration applications, and cultivate a group of local industry leaders. Leverage policies, services, markets, and incentive mechanisms to create an environment for hydrogen energy technology innovation and entrepreneurship, thereby attracting high-level talents from within and outside the province to engage in innovation and startup activities. Strengthen the training of industrial talents and skilled workers to provide human resource support for the development of the hydrogen energy industry.

(IV) Promote demonstration applications and build an industrial ecosystem. 1. Vigorously promote the demonstration application of hydrogen fuel. Leveraging the hydrogen energy logistics platform, pilot applications for \"short-distance transportation\" using fuel cell trucks are carried out, with the aim of developing a \"Shaanxi model\" for the market-based operation of hydrogen fuel cell trucks. Vigorous efforts are being made to promote the pilot operation of two hydrogen-based intercity logistics corridors: Yulin-Yan’an-Xi’an and Xi’an-Weinan-Hancheng, in order to connect the hydrogen industry hubs in northern Shaanxi and Guanzhong. Actively promote the development of a hydrogen energy demonstration city cluster with Xi’an as its leading city, and advance the pilot use of hydrogen energy in areas such as urban public transportation, urban logistics, municipal services, and building heating and cooling. 2. Actively explore the upgraded application of hydrogen feedstocks. We will vigorously promote the upgraded use of hydrogen as a raw material in fields such as refining, metallurgy, and natural gas blending, to help advance the decarbonization and upgrading of the energy and chemical industry in our province. It supports large provincial-owned enterprises and others in carrying out demonstrations of technologies such as natural gas-hydrogen blending, green hydrogen-based ammonia synthesis, carbon dioxide hydrogenation for methanol production, and hydrogen-based steelmaking, in order to validate the technologies and business models needed to expand the applications of green hydrogen. 3. Coordinate the development of hydrogen energy industrial parks. Leverage the industrial advantages of various cities (districts) to guide the development of industrial clusters, and create specialized industrial parks as well as comprehensive demonstration parks for hydrogen energy. Leveraging the advantages of renewable energy resources in northern Shaanxi, demonstration projects for the production and application of green hydrogen through the integration of wind power and photovoltaic power generation are being carried out, to support Huaqin New Energy in establishing a zero-carbon demonstration industrial park for hydrogen energy. It supports the Xi’an-Xianyang New Area and Yulin Science and Innovation City in becoming globally leading demonstration parks for the integrated application of hydrogen energy and zero-carbon energy technologies.