China to exceed green hydrogen goals ahead of schedule

Its projected new installed capacity in 2024 will generate 220,000 tpa of green hydrogen.

China is expected to surpass its 2025 green hydrogen production target this year as the country is projected to install 2.5 gigawatts (GW) of electrolysers by the end of 2024, according to Rystad Energy.

In a report, Rytad said the project capacity to be installed this year coil produce 220,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) of green hydrogen, surpassing the projected  200,000 tpa by the end of 2025.

Last year, the country deployed a total of 1 GW of electrolysers.

Despite this, Rystad Energy noted that a chunk of the country’s hydrogen supply is still produced are grey hydrogen, generated from coal gasification or steam methane reforming.

Minh Khoi Le, Head of Hydrogen Research, Rystad Energy, said that even if China has developed its national hydrogen plan, including the proposed standards and solutions, its progress still falls behind the benchmark set by European markets.

“The ambiguity surrounding the definitions of 'low carbon' and 'renewable' hydrogen within China's policies is a notable concern,” Minh said.

“To truly catalyse meaningful change, it is imperative for China to adopt clear and stringent definitions that align with global best practices, such as those seen in Europe. By establishing unequivocal standards, China can ensure that its hydrogen initiatives contribute significantly towards a sustainable future, not just domestically but also on a global scale,” he added.