Interact Analysis: China plans to build over 1,200 hydrogen refueling stations by 2025. A huge number
"Our research found that pilot cities for hydrogen industry development announced higher targets for HRS construction to create an infrastructure for the adoption of fuel cell vehicles", wrote Interact Analysis' Principal Analyst Shirly Zhu.
According to one of the latest reports by Interact Analysis, signed by Principal Analyst Shirly Zhu, 30 provinces and municipal cities across China issued government policies and plans covering the development of hydrogen refueling stations (HRS). Of these, 29 local governments outlined 2025 targets for the construction of HRS, totaling more than 1,200 sites. This is by far a higher number compared to the current HRS existing in the whole world.
“Our research found that pilot cities for hydrogen industry development announced higher targets for HRS construction to create an infrastructure for the adoption of fuel cell vehicles”, wrote Shirly Zhu. “For example, Hebei plans to build 100 HRS, while Shanghai, Beijing, and Henan have set targets for nearly 100 HRS sites. It is worth mentioning that Zhengzhou – capital of Henan province and leading promotion of fuel cell vehicles – plans to construct 110 HRS across the urban area in 2025″.
China hydrogen refueling stations targets
“It is very interesting to note that Chinese local governments adjusted their HRS targets during the past two years in line with deployments of fuel cell vehicles and regulations. The launch of the fuel cell vehicle pilot city clusters by Chinese central government can be seen as a catalyst for some regions adjusting their plans”.
The Chinese central government rolled out the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle pilot city cluster initiative and later clarified hydrogen as part of its future national energy system and one of its strategic emerging industries. These moves provided substantial stimulus to local governments to promote development of the hydrogen industry. The adjustment of industry policies also reflected the increasing confidence of local governments in promoting hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
Some relevant cases in the various Chinese provinces
In the context of developing the national hydrogen industry, some provinces and municipalities raised their medium- and long-term HRS construction targets to 2030 within their hydrogen energy plans and regulations. For example, Zhejiang province released a government document in August 2023 setting an objective to build a total of 89 stations by 2030 (alongside a 2025 target of 50 stations). Sichuan province announced its plans in November 2022 to construct a total of 80 HRS by 2030 (with a 2025 target of 60 stations). In addition, both Jilin and Guangxi provinces propose constructing 10 HRS each by 2025, while the 2030 targets are set at 70 and 50 stations respectively.
