On October 23, the State Council Information Office held a press conference to discuss the industrial and information development in the first three quarters of 2024. Zhao Zhiguo, spokesperson and chief engineer of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, stated that the country is deepening its industrial energy conservation and carbon reduction efforts, vigorously developing the clean, low-carbon hydrogen industry, and promoting environmental equipment manufacturing, resulting in a continuous decline in energy consumption per unit of industrial added value.
Tao Qing, director of the operation monitoring coordination bureau, announced that the ministry will focus on establishing a green, low-carbon development mechanism and will issue an “Action Plan for Green and Low-Carbon Development in Manufacturing.” This initiative aims to support a comprehensive green transformation of the economy and society. Tao also emphasized the promotion of clean, low-carbon hydrogen applications in industrial sectors, addressing existing bottlenecks and driving policy innovation to accelerate its large-scale use in industries such as metallurgy, chemicals, and petrochemicals, as well as breakthroughs in various applications, including green microgrids, green shipping, and green aviation.
As a widely available, clean secondary energy source, hydrogen possesses high energy density and calorific value, enabling significant decarbonization in transportation and industrial production. It can serve as a long-term energy storage medium, integrating with renewable sources like wind and solar to enhance energy utilization efficiency, optimize resource allocation, and stabilize the grid.
During this year’s national two sessions, hydrogen energy was included in the government work report, which explicitly called for accelerating the development of the emerging hydrogen industry. Due to its clean, efficient, and renewable characteristics, hydrogen is gradually becoming a vital component of China’s new energy system and a key direction for developing new productive forces.
