The commercialization of the whole hydrogen energy industry chain will be led by green hydrogen preparation and fuel cells, said Ouyang Minggao, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the president of the International Association of Hydrogen and Fuel Cells.
He delivered a speech at the Conference on Promoting High-quality Development of Modern Industrial Chain of Hydrogen Energy Application held in Beijing on May 5, where he also pointed out that the key innovation in the current hydrogen energy technology chain is fuel cells/electrolysis devices, which must be prioritized for breakthroughs.
The current main task is to choose a reasonable route for hydrogen storage and transportation technology. In terms of the hydrogen energy value chain, strategic value has been recognized and has also sparked a wave of hydrogen energy. To develop commercial value in the future, the economy of green hydrogen production is the key to achieving commercial value. In terms of the hydrogen energy industry chain, the commercial value of green hydrogen preparation should be taken as the driving force, leading diversified and large-scale commercial demonstration applications, and driving the comprehensive development of the green hydrogen energy industry chain.
Currently, fuel cells and hydrogen energy are being promoted through cost reduction, with cost as the bottleneck. However, in recent years, the cost has significantly decreased, decreased to CNY 3,000 yuan last year. It is expected to be further reduced to CNY 1,000 yuan in 2025 and CNY 500 yuan in 2030, according to Ouyang Minggao.
The Tsinghua New Energy team has comprehensively laid out three technologies in electrolytic water hydrogen production, namely SOEC, PEM, and AEC. So far, SOEC technology will take longer to improve in terms of cost, lifespan, and R&D progress. The cost of PEM in commercial applications is still high, with significant room for innovation and improvement in AEC alkaline hydrogen production technology.
Since 2001, the team has undertaken the fuel cell bus project in the National Major Science and Technology Project for New Energy Vehicles, and has conducted full chain research and development at four levels: membrane electrode, battery stack, engine, and power system, which have now been fully industrialized.
Ouyang Minggao believes that the integration and energy storage of hydrogen energy systems face many challenges, as the industry chain is too long and each link requires the use of various technologies to address diverse issues. According to the analysis of the International Long Duration Energy Storage Committee, in order to realize the long-term transfer of 10% of renewable energy generation in the future, China needs to store 1.5 trillion kilowatt hours of energy, most of which need to use hydrogen energy storage.
“National conditions determine the route, and scenarios define products. The development path of new energy is closely related to the national conditions, and technological innovation is driven by the actual needs of the green hydrogen,” said Ouyang Minggao.
