In a significant stride towards carbon neutrality, China’s Sinopec has kicked off green hydrogen production at its new facility in Kuqa City, Xinjiang.
The plant marks Sinopec’s initial foray into green hydrogen production and highlights the company’s commitment to combating climate change by fostering renewable energy sources.
The plant has an impressive capacity to produce 20,000 metric tons of green hydrogen annually. This production utilizes solar power to initiate the process of electrolysis, where water is split into hydrogen and oxygen. Green hydrogen, derived from renewable power, emits no carbon during its production, making it a game-changing fuel source in efforts to reduce global carbon emissions.
Sinopec’s production facility not only stands out for its production capacity but also for its storage and transmission capabilities. The facility can store up to 210,000 cubic meters of hydrogen and has a transmission capacity of 28,000 cubic meters per hour. The produced hydrogen will be delivered to Sinopec’s Tahe refinery, replacing the hydrogen currently derived from natural gas.
China, along with several other nations, is making aggressive efforts to champion green hydrogen as a vital fuel source. Last year, China’s state planner set an ambitious goal to produce between 100,000 and 200,000 metric tons of green hydrogen per year by 2025. With Sinopec’s facility now operational, China is one step closer to realizing this target.
The company began the construction of this plant back in November 2021, backed by an initial investment of approximately 3 billion yuan ($414 million). Just months later, in February, Sinopec launched another green hydrogen demonstration project in Inner Mongolia with a production capacity of 30,000 metric tons and disclosed plans to construct a 400 km pipeline stretching from Inner Mongolia to Beijing for hydrogen transportation.
The implications of these developments are considerable. By investing in green hydrogen, Sinopec not only aids China in achieving its carbon-neutral goals but also positions the country as a key player in the global race for renewable energy domination. It is important to acknowledge that such initiatives play an integral role in the global fight against climate change and make strides toward a sustainable future.
