Hydrogen energy has become a vital component in building a future energy system and is emerging as a strategic commanding height in the global energy technological revolution and industrial transformation, said industry experts and government officials.

China has been coordinating the entire hydrogen value chain covering production, storage, transportation and utilization to promote the large-scale, integrated development of green electricity, green hydrogen and green fuels, said Song Hongkun, deputy head of the National Energy Administration.

The country has been fostering multi-energy complementarity and coordinated development between hydrogen and renewable energy, electric power, coal, oil and gas, Song said during a forum held at the 9th China International Import Expo.

According to figures released by the NEA, to date, China's installed capacity for renewable energy-based hydrogen production has exceeded 350,000 metric tons per year, while installed annual production capacity for green ammonia and green methanol has topped 1.3 million tons.

Under China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) for building a new energy system, released in June, the country explicitly set a target of reaching 2 million tons of renewable hydrogen production capacity by 2030.

The blueprint also calls for strengthening the purification and efficient utilization of industrial by-product hydrogen and rationally laying out production bases and infrastructure for green hydrogen, ammonia and methanol, it said.

Over the next five years, China will preliminarily establish a clean, low-carbon, safe and efficient new energy system and achieve its carbon peak target on schedule, Song said.

The period will also serve as a crucial incubation window for the hydrogen sector to transition from pilot demonstrations to large-scale, market-oriented growth, making hydrogen a key pillar supporting incremental renewable energy expansion and the upgrading of traditional industries, he noted.

The NEA said it will work with all stakeholders over the next five years to deepen international exchange and cooperation on hydrogen, actively cultivate new quality productive forces in the energy sector and promote hydrogen as an important force in building a clean and beautiful world.

Industry experts believe that thanks to its clean, low-carbon and flexible nature, hydrogen can deeply synergize with various energy sources, serving as a vital anchor for the global green energy transition.

Globally, the hydrogen industry is at a critical leapfrog stage moving from pilot demonstrations toward industrialization and commercialization, said Feng Laifa, general manager of China Energy Investment Corp, also known as CHN Energy.

However, shared challenges — including high core equipment costs, insufficient storage and transport infrastructure, incomplete standard and certification systems, and immature sustainable business models — still require coordinated global solutions, Feng said.

To address these bottlenecks, Feng suggested integrating scientific and technological innovation with industrial innovation to solidify the foundation of the sector across the entire value chain.

"Looking ahead, we will continue to combine our full-industry-chain application scenario advantages with advanced global technologies and experience, promote the implementation of more demonstration projects, and make hydrogen energy an important bond for advancing global joint decarbonization," Feng added.

zhengxin@chinadaily.com.cn