Ouyang Minggao
(Member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the CPPCC, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Professor of Tsinghua University, vice Chairman of the China ev100)
The long-awaited " Medium-and long-term Plan for the Development of the Hydrogen Industry (2021-2035) has finally been released, which will play an important role in guiding the high-quality development of China's hydrogen industry. Planning science analyzes the present situation of the development of the hydrogen industry in our country, has been clear about the hydrogen in our country energy green low carbon transformation of strategic positioning, overall requirements and development goals, put forward the hydrogen innovation system, infrastructure, multiple application, policy guarantee, organize the implementation of specific planning, for the long-term development of the hydrogen industry depicts the grand blueprint. Combined with the spirit of the document, I would like to briefly talk about a few preliminary experience and suggestions.
1. Adhere to the green and low-carbon route, focus on hydrogen production from renewable energy, and bear in mind the original mission of developing hydrogen energy
In September 2020, General Secretary Xi Jinping proposed that "China will strive to peak its CARBON dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060". To achieve this goal, we must promote the large-scale development of renewable energy. The main carrier of renewable energy is electricity and hydrogen, which are complementary in terms of power and energy storage. As the raw material of carbon-free industry, hydrogen is irreplaceable. Then, the strategic position and economic rationality of hydrogen energy mainly depend on the large-scale long-cycle energy storage and diversified terminal utilization needs in the renewable energy transition. If hydrogen is produced based on fossil energy, there are problems of low energy utilization efficiency and high carbon dioxide emissions, which are repeatedly questioned. Although hydrogen production from renewable energy also has energy conversion efficiency problems in the whole chain of production, storage, transportation and utilization, the efficiency problem can be transformed into a cost problem with the expanding installed capacity of renewable energy. In the Zhangjiakou Renewable Energy Demonstration Zone approved by The State Council, our team tried to carry out the whole chain engineering verification from hydrogen production from renewable energy to terminal application. When the price of renewable energy power is less than 0.15 yuan / KWH, the economy of hydrogen production from renewable energy can be guaranteed. Therefore, hydrogen production from renewable energy is an inevitable choice to adhere to the green and low-carbon development path.
The Plan puts forward the development goal of "by 2025, the number of fuel cell vehicles will reach 50,000, and the hydrogen production of renewable energy will reach 100,000-200,000 tons". In terms of quantity, the hydrogen production of renewable energy can meet the use of fuel cell vehicles; in terms of quality, the purity of hydrogen production by renewable power electrolytic water is very high, which can meet the high requirements of fuel cell for hydrogen purity, and can completely avoid the corrosion or poisoning of hydrogenation stations, hydrogen storage bottles and fuel cells.
Electrolysis water hydrogen production is divided into alkaline electrolysis water hydrogen production (AEC), proton exchange membrane electrolysis water hydrogen production (PEMEC), high temperature water vapor electrolysis hydrogen production (SOEC) and other technical routes, some experts predict that the demand for water electrolysis hydrogen production will be greater than fuel cells in the future. At present, China's energy industry actively invests in hydrogen production from renewable energy, such as Sichuan hydropower hydrogen production, Xinjiang photovoltaic hydrogen production, Inner Mongolia wind power hydrogen production, etc., which has laid a good industrial foundation for the large-scale production of clean and low carbon hydrogen energy.
2. Adhere to innovation leading, self-reliance and self-improvement, to achieve new breakthroughs in hydrogen energy science and technology
The chain of hydrogen energy technology is long and there are many difficulties, and the existing technology and economy can not fully meet the practical needs. It is urgent to innovate and break through from the main links of hydrogen energy preparation, storage and transportation, filling, fuel cell and hydrogen energy storage system, and focus on the "bottleneck" technology. For example, the proton exchange membrane that seriously affects the life and service cost of the fuel cell, the high strength carbon fiber and safety valve of the 70MPa high pressure four bottle; the core components of the filling gun, etc. At the same time, basic research and applied basic research should also be carried out for the forefront of hydrogen energy technology. For example, water electrolysis of hydrogen production catalyst and anionic film, photoelectric catalytic hydrogen production, hydrogen liquefaction cycle based on superconducting strong magnetic field high efficient magnetic refrigeration and medium voltage deep cold gas hydrogen storage, a new generation of solid oxide fuel cell and SOFC / SOCE can operate reversibly new generation of hydrogen energy technology. In the global hydrogen industry competition, we should seize the opportunity, strive to achieve a revolutionary breakthrough in hydrogen energy technology, promote the comprehensive maturity of hydrogen energy and fuel cell technology, promote the large-scale market penetration of hydrogen energy in key application fields such as transportation and industry, and seize the international frontier position.
Compared with electrochemical power batteries, China's hydrogen fuel cell is relatively weak in terms of technical reserves, industrial foundation, talent team and other aspects, and there is a certain gap with the international advanced level. It is suggested to establish a hydrogen energy innovation platform as soon as possible, carry out key core technologies and talent training, and build a self-reliant and self-reliant science and technology system. At the same time, the use of hydrogen energy is a common meaning of all countries in the world. We must adhere to the attitude of openness and cooperation, constantly gather the innovative achievements of all parties, and promote the formation of a sound international application of hydrogen energy.
3. Adhere to the safety first, demonstration first, to explore a scientific and reasonable industrial ecology
Similar to battery safety to electric vehicles and electrochemical energy storage industry, hydrogen safety in the development of hydrogen industry is self-evident, we must strive to be safe. It is necessary to establish a data monitoring platform for the whole hydrogen industry chain, establish a safety evaluation and detection system, especially pay attention to the safety training of front-line staff, and daily operations should be carried out in strict accordance with safety norms. For example, Zhangjiakou Hydrogen Research Institute was established in Zhangjiakou, established the safety monitoring platform and database of the whole hydrogen industry chain, and jointly with the China Special Inspection Center to maintain the safe operation of the 2022 Winter Olympics, in order to ensure the operation of over 1000 fuel cell vehicles and 20 hydrogenation stations, gathered global hydrogen safety management experience to ensure the safety of green travel for the Winter Olympics.
It is worth noting that fuel cell vehicles are only the breakthrough of the application of hydrogen energy. The long-term development should be gradually expanded to diversified applications in transportation, power, chemical industry, metallurgy and other fields, and give full play to the important supporting role of hydrogen energy in the green and low-carbon energy transformation and the green development of high emission and high pollution industries.
4. We will adhere to market leadership and government guidance, and follow the law for the development of emerging industries
The application areas of pure electric vehicles in China are mainly concentrated in the east, central and south, while the distribution in the north, northeast and northwest is less. The reason is that the low temperature in these areas in winter affects the output of power batteries. In contrast, fuel cells are less affected by temperature, and the waste heat of batteries can be converted and utilized flexibly. In addition, these regions are rich in renewable energy resources, and the clean and low carbon hydrogen energy supply capacity produced from renewable energy is strong, so fuel cell vehicles have great market application potential.
Compared with the development process of China's pure electric vehicles from gestation to high quality, the development of China's fuel cell vehicle industry is about 10 years behind than that of pure electric vehicle industry. At present, it is still in the product introduction period and is entering the growth period of rapid decline in application cost. According to the product test data of major fuel cell manufacturers at home and abroad, it is expected that the cost of fuel cell will decrease significantly and the performance will improve steadily in the next decade.
We have noted that the technological complexity of the whole industry chain of hydrogen energy and the fierce competition between China and foreign countries cannot be underestimated, and the whole industry must unite as one to overcome difficulties. During this period, government support and guidance are very important, especially in the aspects of overall industrial layout and the expansion and innovation of application scenarios. We should adapt measures to local conditions and act according to our ability, and avoid the eagerness for quick success and instant benefits and blind investment.