Tram Resources learned that on November 8th, Hubei Province issued the "Action Plan for Accelerating the Development of Hydrogen Energy Industry in Hubei Province (2024-2027)". It is explicitly stated that a batch of green hydrogen preparation projects will be implemented to form a low-cost and diversified hydrogen energy supply system, 100 hydrogen refueling stations will be built, the total hydrogen production capacity will reach 1.5 million tons/year, the promotion of fuel cell vehicles will exceed 7000 units, and a national hydrogen energy equipment center with electrolytic cells, fuel cells, etc. as the core will be built, becoming an important hydrogen energy hub in the country and demonstrating the application and promotion of hydrogen energy in transportation, industry, and other fields.

　　The original text is as follows:

　　Notice of the General Office of the Provincial People's Government on Issuing the Action Plan for Accelerating the Development of Hydrogen Energy Industry in Hubei Province (2024-2027)

　　Municipal, state, and county governments, as well as various departments of the provincial government:

　　The Action Plan for Accelerating the Development of Hydrogen Energy Industry in Hubei Province (2024-2027) has been approved by the Provincial People's Government and is now being issued to you. Please implement it seriously based on the actual work situation.

　　October 29, 2024

　　(This document is publicly released)

　　Action Plan for Accelerating the Development of Hydrogen Energy Industry in Hubei Province (2024-2027)

　　Hydrogen energy is an important strategic choice for energy transformation and upgrading, an important component of the future national energy system, and a key development direction for strategic emerging industries. To seize the commanding heights of the modern hydrogen energy industry, build a hydrogen energy industry cluster with national influence, and promote the construction of Hubei as a strong hydrogen energy province, this action plan is formulated.

　　1、 Overall requirements

　　Strive to establish a preliminary layout of Hubei's hydrogen energy industry with Wuhan as the core by 2027, build a national hydrogen energy equipment center with electrolytic cells, fuel cells, etc. as the core, become an important hydrogen energy hub in the country, and form a demonstration of hydrogen energy application and promotion in transportation, industry, and other fields.

　　The industrial scale has doubled. The total output value of the entire hydrogen energy industry chain in the province has reached 100 billion yuan, of which the output value of hydrogen gas has reached 30 billion yuan, and the output value of hydrogen energy application equipment and components has reached 40 billion yuan. Strive to include the hydrogen energy industry cluster in the national strategic emerging industry cluster, cultivate and introduce more than 10 leading domestic hydrogen energy industry enterprises and 100 key hydrogen energy industry enterprises.

　　Innovation capability has soared. Create 6 provincial-level and above hydrogen energy industry innovation platforms, with technical indicators such as proton exchange membranes, membrane electrodes, electrolysis cells, and hydrogen energy storage reaching international advanced levels. Maintain a leading position in the research and application of hydrogen fuel cells and automobiles in China, and form more than 10 national demonstration industry standards and specifications.

　　Hydrogen energy is widely used. Implement a batch of green hydrogen production projects, form a low-cost and diversified hydrogen energy supply system, build 100 hydrogen refueling stations, and achieve a total hydrogen production capacity of 1.5 million tons per year. Fully expand the pilot application of hydrogen energy in transportation, industry, and energy storage and power generation fields. The promotion of fuel cell vehicles has exceeded 7000 units, and the promotion and application of fuel cell ships and aircraft are leading in the country.

　　2、 Key tasks

　　（1） Building a highland for technological innovation in the hydrogen energy industry

　　1. Promote the construction of technology innovation platforms. Focus on key areas and critical links of hydrogen energy, and build a technology innovation system that is enterprise led, market-oriented, and combines industry, academia, research, and application. Support the Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Fuel Cells and other efforts to create a national level innovation platform. Support the construction of the Hubei Provincial Gas Boosting Equipment Technology Innovation Center for Petrochemical Machinery. For newly approved national technology research and development centers, industrial innovation centers, and manufacturing innovation centers related to hydrogen energy, a one-time subsidy of 10 million yuan will be provided for construction; For newly approved national key laboratories, National Engineering Research Center and National Enterprise Technology Center related to hydrogen energy, a one-time subsidy of 5 million yuan will be provided. (Leading unit: Provincial Department of Science and Technology; Responsible units: Provincial Department of Finance, Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Provincial Department of Economy and Information Technology, Provincial Market Supervision Bureau, and People's Governments of various cities and prefectures)

　　（2） Promote high-quality development of industrial and supply chains

　　4. Build a multi-channel hydrogen energy supply system. Encourage flexible and effective use of the two-part electricity pricing and time of use electricity pricing mechanisms to reduce the cost of electricity for green hydrogen production; Support the application of new green hydrogen production technologies such as off grid hydrogen production, biomass hydrogen production, and photocatalytic water hydrogen production. Green hydrogen production does not require obtaining a hazardous chemical safety production license. Support enterprises such as Nanzhang Xintian and Hubei Jiaye to build a number of renewable energy hydrogen production demonstration projects. Support enterprises such as Yihua Group, Wuhan Iron and Steel Group, Jingmen Petrochemical, etc. to fully utilize existing industrial by-product hydrogen resources such as chlor alkali, coke oven gas, and refining, improve hydrogen production efficiency, reduce hydrogen production costs, and build a number of hydrogen source supply demonstration bases. (Leading unit: Provincial Energy Bureau; Responsible units: Provincial Department of Economy and Information Technology, Provincial Department of Natural Resources, Provincial Emergency Department, and People's Governments of various cities and prefectures)

　　5. Steadily build a hydrogen energy storage and transportation network. Explore and practice various storage and transportation methods, rely on key enterprises such as CRRC Changjiang, improve the efficiency of high-pressure gas storage and transportation, promote the industrial application of organic liquid hydrogen storage at room temperature and pressure, and accelerate the reduction of storage and transportation costs; Support Jingmen Hongtu in promoting the use of high-pressure and large volume hydrogen storage tanks, semi trailers, and long tube hydrogen pressure vessels; Explore the application of storage and transportation methods such as liquid hydrogen, cryogenic high-pressure hydrogen storage, and solid-state hydrogen storage; Support the construction of salt cavern hydrogen storage and large-scale rock cavern hydrogen storage projects in areas such as Qianjiang, Yingcheng, and Daye by Wuhan Geotechnical Institute and others; Explore pilot demonstrations of hydrogen blended natural gas pipelines and pure hydrogen pipelines. (Leading units: Provincial Energy Bureau, Provincial Department of Economy and Information Technology; responsible units: Provincial Department of Housing and Urban Rural Development, Provincial Department of Natural Resources, Provincial Emergency Department, Provincial Department of Transportation, and people's governments of various cities and prefectures)

　　6. Coordinate the construction of hydrogen refueling network. Relying on advantageous enterprises such as Sinopec and Hubei Communications Investment Group, we will moderately advance the layout of hydrogen refueling networks and give priority support to hydrogen refueling stations in planning adjustments, land supply, and other aspects. Develop and improve local hydrogen energy infrastructure management measures, clarify approval and acceptance processes and requirements, and implement local filing management for investment and construction of hydrogen refueling stations; Encourage the renovation and expansion of hydrogen production and refueling facilities at existing gas and refueling stations, and formulate and improve the use of existing land for the construction of gas stations, exempting them from planning, site selection, land use and other procedures; Encourage new gas stations to synchronously plan and construct hydrogen refueling facilities, and accelerate the layout of "oil, gas, electricity, and hydrogen" comprehensive energy supply stations. Explore new models of hydrogen refueling stations such as integrated on-site hydrogen production and mobile hydrogen refueling, and support the construction of green hydrogen production and refueling integrated stations outside chemical industrial parks. Actively connect with the construction of the national hydrogen energy highway comprehensive demonstration line, and promote the construction of comprehensive energy demonstration lines for highways such as "Hanyi", "Hanshi", "Wuhuang", and "Huanghuang". (Responsible units: Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Provincial Emergency Department, Provincial Department of Housing and Urban Rural Development, Provincial Department of Natural Resources, Provincial Department of Commerce, Provincial Department of Transport, Provincial Department of Public Security, Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment, Provincial Market Supervision Bureau, Hubei Communications Investment Group, relevant municipal and state governments)

　　7. Consolidate the advantages of hydrogen fuel cells. Cultivate upstream key component production enterprises such as fuel cell compressors, hydrogen circulation systems, bipolar plates, membrane electrodes, humidifiers, etc., support fuel cell equipment enterprises such as Zhongyu Power and Wuhan Institute of Technology Hydrogen Electric to improve product localization rates, and promote the application of fuel cells in the fields of automobiles, ships, aircraft, fixed power stations, backup power sources, etc. (Leading unit: Provincial Department of Economy and Information Technology; Responsible units: Provincial Military Civilian Integration Office, Provincial Department of Science and Technology, Provincial Development and Reform Commission, State Grid Hubei Electric Power Company, and People's Governments of various cities and prefectures)

　　8. Accelerate the cultivation of hydrogen energy enterprises. Accelerate the cultivation of a group of specialized and innovative "little giants" in the field of hydrogen energy, manufacturing industry champions, unicorns, and technology leaders. Cultivate a group of high-quality enterprises to enter the list of "Golden Seed" and "Silver Seed" enterprises in Hubei, and promote the listing of hydrogen energy companies. To address the shortcomings in the development of industries such as renewable energy hydrogen production, hydrogen storage and transportation, and refueling equipment in the province, a group of high-level innovative enterprises, service institutions, and major industrial projects with strong radiation and driving capabilities in the hydrogen energy field will be introduced. Actively strive for support from national key research and development plans, high-quality manufacturing development projects, and other projects in the hydrogen energy industry under construction throughout the province. (Leading units: Provincial Department of Economy and Information Technology, Provincial Department of Commerce; responsible units: Provincial Local Financial Management Bureau, Provincial Department of Science and Technology, Hubei Securities Regulatory Bureau, and people's governments of various cities and prefectures)

　　9. Support the coordinated development of the industrial chain. Support the coordinated development of the "Wuhan+Xiangshi Suixiao" hydrogen energy equipment belt and the "Wuhan+Yijing Jinghuang" hydrogen energy manufacturing belt, support Wuhan to create a core demonstration city for the hydrogen energy industry, support Enshi Prefecture to build the "Central China Hydrogen Valley", guide various regions to combine their own development advantages and industrial division of labor, orderly promote the development of the hydrogen energy industry, and create a hydrogen energy industry cluster. Establish the Hubei Hydrogen Energy Industry Alliance, leverage the role of supply chain platforms such as the Vehicle Hundred Chain, collaborate with hydrogen energy vehicle and component enterprises, and jointly develop and apply new technologies, products, and equipment in the hydrogen energy industry. Give full play to the strategic cooperation opportunities of the urban agglomeration in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, actively promote the establishment of cross provincial hydrogen energy cooperation mechanisms between "Hunan Hubei Jiangxi" and "Hubei Sichuan Chongqing", and build a "hydrogenated Yangtze River" industrial corridor. (Leading unit: Provincial Development and Reform Commission; responsible units: Provincial Department of Commerce, Provincial Department of Economy and Information Technology, and people's governments of various cities and prefectures)

　　（3） Establish and improve the industrial support system

　　10. Establish a sound standard system. Strengthen the implementation of the "Guidelines for the Construction of the Hydrogen Energy Industry Standard System" and encourage all parties involved in industry, academia, research, and application to participate in the development of the hydrogen energy industry standard system throughout the entire chain. Key support will be given to the development of standards in areas such as hydrogen production from renewable energy sources, safe and efficient storage and transportation of hydrogen energy, and diversified applications of clean and low-carbon hydrogen energy. (Leading unit: Provincial Market Supervision Bureau; Responsible units: Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Provincial Department of Economy and Information Technology, Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment, Provincial Emergency Department, Provincial Energy Bureau)

　　11. Establish a sound inspection and testing system. To support the construction of inspection and testing service platforms for core materials, key components, and complete systems in the industrial chain, and to enhance testing technology capabilities. Establish and improve management measures for annual inspection and scrapping of hydrogen powered vehicles, providing policy and regulatory support for the sustainable operation of hydrogen powered vehicles. Support the development of the "Hanyi" Expressway into a performance road test demonstration base for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Support the construction of a national hydrogen fuel cell vehicle testing base and quality inspection and testing center in Xiangyang. (Leading unit: Provincial Market Supervision Bureau; Responsible units: Provincial Public Security Department, Provincial Department of Transportation, and People's Governments of various cities and prefectures)

　　（4） Expand the diversified application space of hydrogen energy

　　12. Expand demonstration applications in the field of transportation. Encourage priority procurement of hydrogen energy equipment in government investment projects and provincial key projects; Actively explore the demonstration pilot and promotion application of hydrogen powered vehicles in urban logistics, public transportation, rail transit and other scenarios. Support the promotion and use of fuel cell vehicles in national backbone cold chain logistics bases such as Wuhan, Xiangyang, Yichang, and Ezhou, and support the construction of trunk logistics demonstration lines on highways; The provincial finance will provide a 3-year subsidy for the full refund of highway tolls for hydrogen powered vehicles equipped with Chudao ETC that operate on highways within the province. Support the demonstration of hydrogen powered ships, aircraft and other applications in the fields of tourism and law enforcement on rivers. Hydrogen energy vehicles, ships, and other application promotion demonstration projects selected through methods such as "unveiling and leading" will be subsidized at a rate not exceeding 10% of the purchase cost. The maximum provincial-level support funds for each demonstration project will not exceed 10 million yuan. Local governments are encouraged to refer to national or provincial-level incentive policies and provide purchase rewards at a ratio of 1:1. (Leading unit: Provincial Department of Transportation; Responsible units: Provincial Military Civilian Integration Office, Provincial Department of Finance, Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Provincial Department of Economy and Information Technology, Provincial Bureau of Public Security, Hubei Transportation Investment Group, Hubei Port Group, and the people's governments of various cities and prefectures)

　　13. Support demonstration applications in the industrial sector. Support industrial enterprises such as Wuhan Iron and Steel Group to promote the nearby consumption of industrial by-product hydrogen, and expand the alternative applications of hydrogen energy in metallurgy, building materials, synthetic ammonia, synthetic methanol and other fields. Support the pilot demonstration of hydrogen rich metallurgical processes, promote deep decarbonization in the steel industry, and facilitate the green transformation and development of high energy consuming industries. (Leading unit: Provincial Department of Economy and Information Technology; Responsible units: Provincial Emergency Department, Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment, and People's Governments of various cities and prefectures)

　　14. Accelerate demonstration applications in the field of energy storage and power generation. Support the exploration of integrated application models combining renewable energy generation and hydrogen storage in regions with abundant renewable energy such as Yichang, Suizhou, Xiaogan, and Enshi, and incorporate hydrogen production into virtual power plants for load side regulation; Tailoring the layout of fuel cell distributed power generation and cogeneration projects according to local conditions, carrying out demonstration applications of coal-fired hydrogen blending or ancillary product energy storage power generation, and constructing two or more demonstration projects in large public buildings, schools, industrial parks, etc; Support the demonstration of hydrogen blending combustion of gas turbines by State Power Investment Corporation; Support the demonstration application of fuel cell backup power supply in data centers, communication base stations, etc. (Leading unit: Provincial Energy Bureau; Responsible units: Provincial Department of Housing and Urban Rural Development, Provincial Department of Natural Resources, Provincial Communication Management Bureau, State Grid Hubei Electric Power Company, and People's Governments of various cities and prefectures)

　　3、 Guarantee measures

　　Implement the "three chain" working mechanism of the hydrogen energy industry, strengthen horizontal coordination among provincial departments, and enhance the linkage between provinces, cities, and counties. Establish a 1 billion yuan provincial-level hydrogen energy industry investment fund to promote the formation of a fund group that covers the entire process of scientific and technological innovation, incubation, acceleration, and listing cultivation funding needs. Encourage and support hydrogen energy leading enterprises to use the "Hubei Unified Environmental Rights Trading Platform" to carry out hydrogen energy trading. The municipal and state people's governments implement the responsibility of local safety risk supervision and promote the graded control of safety risks in hydrogen related enterprises. Actively explore and carry out statistical monitoring of the development of the hydrogen energy industry. Through the "one case, one discussion" channel for introducing top talents and the "Chutian Talent Plan", we will focus on introducing leading talents and innovative teams in the hydrogen energy field at home and abroad. Strengthen the construction of disciplines related to hydrogen energy, and enhance the construction of training bases and skill master studios for high skilled talents in the hydrogen energy industry.