China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) has successfully completed the construction of the Sinopec Xinjiang Kuqa Green Hydrogen Pilot Project, marking a significant achievement in the nation’s pursuit of scaled industrial applications of green hydrogen. The project, China’s largest photovoltaic green hydrogen production initiative to date, signals a transformative step towards low-carbon energy solutions.
At full capacity, the Sinopec Xinjiang Kuqa Green Hydrogen Pilot Project is designed to produce an annual output of 20,000 tons of green hydrogen. This milestone marks a significant breakthrough in China’s efforts to integrate sustainable energy practices on an industrial scale. The produced green hydrogen will be supplied to Sinopec Tahe Petrochemical, replacing the reliance on natural gas and fossil fuels for hydrogen production. This shift is a crucial development in achieving modern, low-carbon oil processing and coupling green hydrogen technologies.
In a pioneering move, the project utilizes photovoltaic power generation to directly produce green hydrogen — a first-of-its-kind endeavor in China. Leveraging the abundant solar resources available in Xinjiang, the project consists of an electrolyzed water hydrogen plant with an annual capacity of 20,000 tons, a spherical hydrogen storage tank with a capacity of 210,000 standard cubic meters, and hydrogen transmission pipelines with a capacity of 28,000 standard cubic meters per hour. By being a flagship scaled application of green hydrogen refining, the project is estimated to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 485,000 tons annually.
Sinopec’s achievement also underscores their commitment to addressing challenges in the green hydrogen sector. This includes flexible hydrogen production amid the fluctuations in new energy power and the localization of essential equipment and core materials. The company is determined to make advancements in hydrogen transportation and green hydrogen refining.
Having already established over 100 hydrogen refueling stations, Sinopec boasts the world’s largest operational network of such stations. With a strategic focus on hydrogen transportation and refining, the company aims to further accelerate its hydrogen development initiatives.
In addition to the Sinopec Xinjiang Kuqa Green Hydrogen Pilot Project, the company has embarked on other notable ventures in the field of green hydrogen. The Ordos project, with an annual production capacity of 30,000 tons, began construction in February 2023. Meanwhile, the Ulanqab project is currently in the planning stages. As part of its commitment to dual-carbon goals, Sinopec remains dedicated to reducing carbon emissions and promoting green, low-carbon development.
Sinopec’s success in completing this groundbreaking project exemplifies China’s progress towards sustainable energy solutions and signifies a significant step forward in realizing a more environmentally conscious future.