China, People’s Republic

Promoting the development of China’s hydrogen energy industry is crucial for achieving green energy transition. However existing research lacks systematic studies on the spatial layout of the hydrogen industry chain. This study constructed a comprehensive theoretical framework encompassing hardware infrastructure software systems and soft power. Using multi-source heterogeneous data GIS analysis and NVivo text coding methods the current regional layout and challenges of China’s hydrogen infrastructure industry chain were systematically evaluated. The findings determined that economically developed eastern regions lead in infrastructure and soft power while central and western regions leverage their resource and manufacturing advantages. Major challenges include regional imbalances in hardware infrastructure uneven distribution of soft power and misalignment between software systems and actual needs. Analysis of the “14th Five-Year Plan” of various regions elucidated deep insights into the diversity of local hydrogen energy development strategies identifying five types of hydrogen cities: resource-advantaged market-oriented regionally collaborative innovation-driven and policy-supported. Accordingly strategies to enhance industry chain synergy clarify city roles and optimize regional ecosystems were proposed. It is recommended to integrate hydrogen infrastructure with urban planning and incorporate environmental impact assessments into spatial optimization decisions. This study provides a systematic analytical framework and progressive policy recommendations for the efficient and green layout of China’s hydrogen infrastructure offering important implications for the sustainable development of the hydrogen industry and other rapidly developing economies.

This study develops a semi-empirical model of an alkaline water electrolyzer (AWE) based on thermodynamic and electrochemical principles to investigate cell voltage behavior during electrolysis. By importing polarization curve test data under specific operational conditions eight undefined parameters are precisely fitted demonstrating the model’s high accuracy in describing the voltage characteristics of alkaline electrolyzers. Additionally an AWE system model is introduced to examine the influence of various operational parameters on system efficiency. This innovative approach not only provides detailed insights into the operational dynamics of AWE systems but also offers a valuable tool for optimizing performance and enhancing efficiency advancing the understanding and optimization of AWE technologies.

Scaling up clean hydrogen supply in the near future is critical to achieving China’s hydrogen development target. This study established an electrolytic hydrogen development mechanism considering the generation mix and operation optimization of power systems with access to hydrogen. Based on the incremental cost principle we quantified the provincial and national clean hydrogen production cost performance levels in 2030. The results indicated that this mechanism could effectively reduce the production cost of clean hydrogen in most provinces with a national average value of less than 2 USD·kg−1 at the 40-megaton hydrogen supply scale. Provincial cooperation via power transmission lines could further reduce the production cost to 1.72 USD·kg−1. However performance is affected by the potential distribution of hydrogen demand. From the supply side competitiveness of the mechanism is limited to clean hydrogen production while from the demand side it could help electrolytic hydrogen fulfil a more significant role. This study could provide a solution for the ambitious development of renewables and the hydrogen economy in China.

Hydrogen is increasingly recognized as a clean energy alternative offering effective storage solutions for widespread adoption. Advancements in storage electrolysis and fuel cell technologies position hydrogen as a pathway toward cleaner more efficient and resilient energy solutions across various sectors. However challenges like infrastructure development cost-effectiveness and system integration must be addressed. This review comprehensively examines above-ground hydrogen storage technologies and their applications. It highlights the importance of established hydrogen fuel cell infrastructure particularly in gaseous and LH2 systems. The review favors material-based storage for medium- and long-term needs addressing challenges like adverse thermodynamics and kinetics for metal hydrides. It explores hydrogen storage applications in mobile and stationary sectors including fuel-cell electric vehicles aviation maritime power generation systems off-grid stations power backups and combined renewable energy systems. The paper underscores hydrogen’s potential to revolutionize stationary applications and co-generation systems highlighting its significant role in future energy landscapes.

In order to study the flow blending and transporting process of hydrogen that injects into the natural gas pipelines a three-dimensional T-pipe blending model is established and the flow characteristics are investigated systematically by the large eddy simulation (LES). Firstly the mathematical formulation of hydrogen-methane blending process is provided and the LES method is introduced and validated by a benchmark gas blending model having experimental data. Subsequently the T-pipe blending model is presented and the effects of key parameters such as the velocity of main pipe hydrogen blending ratio diameter of hydrogen injection pipeline diameter of main pipe and operating pressure on the hydrogen-methane blending process are studied systematically. The results show that under certain conditions the gas mixture will be stratified downstream of the blending point with hydrogen at the top of the pipeline and methane at the bottom of the pipeline. For the no-stratified scenarios the distance required for uniformly mixing downstream the injection point increases when the hydrogen mixing ratio decreases the diameter of the hydrogen injection pipe and the main pipe increase. Finally based on the numerical results the underlying physics of the stratification phenomenon during the blending process are explored and an indicator for stratification is proposed using the ratio between the Reynolds numbers of the natural gas and hydrogen.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s annual operational carbon intensity index (CII) rating requires that from 1 January 2023 all applicable ships meet both technical and operational energy efficiency requirements. In this paper we conduct a comparative study of different alternative fuel options based on a CII model from the perspective of shipowners. The advantages and disadvantages of alternative fuel options such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) methanol ammonia and hydrogen are presented. A numerical example using data from three China Ocean Shipping (Group) shipping lines is analyzed. It was found that the overall attained CII of different ship types showed a decreasing trend with the increase of the ship’s deadweight tonnage. A larger ship size choice can obtain better carbon emission reduction for the carbon emission reduction investment program using alternative fuels. The recommended options of using LNG fuel and zero-carbon fuel (ammonia and hydrogen) on Route 1 and Route 3 during the study period were analyzed for the shipowners. Carbon reduction scenarios using low-carbon fuels (LNG and methanol) and zero-carbon fuels (ammonia and hydrogen) on Route 2 are in line with IMO requirements for CII.