Sinopec sets sights on hydrogen

China Petrochemical Corp, or Sinopec Group, has provided the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area some 40 metric tons of hydrogen so far to help the rapid development of the hydrogen industry in the region, the company said on Thursday.

The company's Guangzhou branch has been working on providing hydrogen to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, which is witnessing rapid development in the sector. Cities like Guangzhou and Foshan are coming up with detailed hydrogen industry development plans, believing hydrogen to play a vital part in the future as a clean energy source.

The company had set up more than 20 hydrogen refueling stations in Guangzhou as of the end of last May, it said.

China will become an important market for hydrogen, which is expected to become a key pillar of decarbonization strategies in the country, according to Bloomberg NEF.

Being Asia's biggest refiner, Sinopec has been speeding up the development of hydrogen applications nationwide. It is also the country's largest hydrogen producer, with annual hydrogen production exceeding 3.5 million tons, accounting for 14 percent of the country's total.

It aims to build 1,000 hydrogen refueling stations by the end of 2025 to lead the country's hydrogen development.