Three Ministries Launch Pilot Programs for Integrated Hydrogen Applications

[Policy Update] Three ministries, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), have initiated pilot programs for integrated hydrogen applications, targeting a fleet of 100,000 fuel cell vehicles nationwide by 2030.

Core Development: Aim for 100,000 fuel cell vehicles in operation nationwide by 2030

City clusters will be selected through a competitive 'challenge-based appointment' mechanism. Central government fiscal support will be provided via a 'reward-instead-of-subsidy' approach, with a maximum reward of RMB 1.6 billion per city cluster. The four-year pilot period will focus on diverse application scenarios, including fuel cell vehicles, hydrogen-based steelmaking, and green ammonia/methanol production, to build a '1+N+X' application ecosystem.

Key Metric: Target terminal hydrogen price below RMB 25/kg

By 2030, leading regions aim to further reduce this to around RMB 15/kg, driving cost reduction and efficiency improvements across the entire hydrogen value chain—from production, storage, and transportation to end-use. The industry currently faces challenges such as insufficient green hydrogen supply, difficulties in storage and transportation, and immature business models.

Strategic Foundation: Drive dual breakthroughs in technology and market through large-scale applications

The policy emphasizes localized implementation and avoiding low-level redundant construction, aiming to explore viable commercialization pathways through real-world pilots and position hydrogen energy as a new growth engine.