The petrochemical industry is heading towards a new high ground in hydrogen energy development
Hydrogen energy has dual attributes as both an industrial raw material and an energy source. The Energy Law of the People's Republic of China, which was released in early November, mentions hydrogen energy many times and incorporates it into the energy management system. The hydrogen energy industry is an important component of the country's future energy system and a key development direction for strategic emerging industries and future industries. Li Yunpeng, the Party Secretary of the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation, emphasized the significance of developing hydrogen energy at the 2024 High-Quality Development Conference of the Hydrogen Energy Industry held in Beijing on December 4-5.
This conference focused on promoting the high-quality development of hydrogen energy, deeply analyzing the new situation, new challenges and new requirements faced by the petrochemical industry, and exploring feasible paths to cultivate new tracks and new driving forces for hydrogen energy.
The hydrogen energy industry is generally in its early stage of development, with weak innovation capabilities, low technological levels, weak equipment manufacturing, and few application scenarios. It urgently needs to forge a new path for high-quality development. Li Yunpeng pointed out that the petrochemical industry should adhere to the principle of standards first and lead the development of the entire industrial chain through standardized construction. Adhere to innovation-driven development and promote the large-scale development of the industry through diversified applications. Adhere to exemplary leadership and avoid "involution" competition through rational layout. Adhere to openness and sharing, and build a global hydrogen energy "ecosystem" through international cooperation.
"Industry is the main battlefield for hydrogen energy application. Accelerating the substitution process of clean and low-carbon hydrogen in the industrial sector has become an international consensus and an important direction for fostering new economic drivers." " Ding Zhijun, deputy director of the Department of Energy Conservation and Comprehensive Utilization of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, proposed that the petrochemical industry should accelerate the expansion of hydrogen energy application scenarios.
The experts attending the meeting also reached a consensus: Technological innovation is an important way to promote the high-quality development of hydrogen energy.
From now until 2025, priority will be given to the development of long-life fuel cell system technology systems, low Pt content and high durability high-performance stack technology systems, and hydrogen-rich blast furnace technology systems. Around 2030, priority should be given to the development of the theoretical and technical system of hydrogen-based shaft furnaces. Around 2035, priority will be given to developing the high-efficiency SOEC theory and technology system." Academician Ling Wen of the Chinese Academy of Engineering has made prospects for the development of hydrogen energy application technology.
At present, the petrochemical industry has entered a fast lane in promoting the development of hydrogen energy. A large number of representative projects have achieved remarkable results, laying a solid foundation for future development.
Yang Weisheng, chief engineer of China National Petroleum Corporation, said that the company has carried out a large number of demonstration explorations in areas such as large-scale recovery of abundant hydrogen, high-power wide-range regulation of electrolytic water, research and development of new catalysts, and high-pressure gaseous hydrogen storage. Yu Baocai, senior vice president of Sinopec Corporation, mentioned that the 20,000-ton/year green hydrogen demonstration project in Kuqa, Xinjiang, has overcome the challenges of large-scale flexible hydrogen production from fluctuating power sources and stable supply of green hydrogen to refining and chemical enterprises, providing a global model for the large-scale development of the green hydrogen industry. Ding Jianlin, assistant general manager of the National Oil and Gas Pipeline Network Group Co., LTD., said that the company has initially formed the diffusion law and safety control system of the methanol-liquid ammonia pipeline transportation process system. It is also worth noting that on November 18th, the world's first large-scale solid-state hydrogen storage device was successfully dispatched from the Waigaoqiao Phase IV terminal in Shanghai to Malaysia, marking a significant breakthrough for China in long-distance and large-scale hydrogen transportation.
Academicians Zhang Laibin and Chen Xuedong of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, as well as academician Zou Caineng of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and many other industry experts shared their insightful views on themes such as the innovative development of the hydrogen energy industry chain, the construction of standard systems, the integrated development of digital and intelligent technologies, and the production, storage, transportation and application of hydrogen energy.
The opening ceremony of the conference was presided over by Sun Weishan, a member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee and vice president of the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation. It is jointly hosted by the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation, China National Petroleum Corporation, China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation, China National Offshore Oil Corporation, National Pipeline Network Corporation and China Hydrogen Energy Alliance.