Hydrogen energy opportunities for China and UK discussed at forum

Cooperation in the hydrogen energy industry between China and the United Kingdom was further discussed at the 2023 China-UK Hydrogen Energy Cooperation Forum in Manchester on Thursday.

The forum was attended by government officials, specialists from the industry, and investors and followed a memorandum of understanding being reached in April, 2022 on exchange and cooperation in the hydrogen industry between Manchester and Wuhan, in Central China's Hubei province.

Zheng Zeguang, China's ambassador to the UK, delivered an opening speech at the forum in which he noted that China's capacity for the large-scale delivery and application of hydrogen energy, and the UK's strengths in technological innovation and green financing would be complementary.

"China is the largest producer and consumer and we have just released the first medium to long-term plan for the hydrogen industry and we have incorporated this industry into our carbon neutrality and carbon peaking policies and the 14th Five-Year Plan for economic and social development up to 2025," said Zheng, who added that the China Hydrogen Alliance predicts hydrogen will account for as much as 20 percent of China's energy mix by 2026.

Long Liangwen, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of Wuhan Municipal People's Congress, led a delegation to the forum and said the local government will organize more group visits for stakeholders in the hydrogen industry, to discuss business applications, strengthen joint research between Wuhan University of Technology and universities in Manchester, and co-design industry standards and coordinate mechanisms in the two cities.

Participants discussed hydrogen investment opportunities in Greater Manchester and stressed continuing dialogues with Wuhan, to explore cooperation potential for green hydrogen demonstration projects.

Bev Craig, leader of Manchester City Council, said that Manchester had set ambitious targets to be net-zero in carbon emissions by 2038.

"We are working hard to achieve our climate goals, but we cannot do it alone. We can only tackle climate change by working together globally," she said, praising the Chinese government's commitments to reach peak carbon emissions by 2030, and to hit carbon neutrality by 2060.

"It has provided a stable platform for investment and innovation," said Craig of the Chinese government's commitments. "Our relationship with China remains productive, thanks to the strong infrastructure in our city to support trade and investment with China, as well as the large Chinese community living in the city and surrounding region, who continue to make a positive and significant contribution to our economy and to our culture."

The forum was organized by China's Consulate General in Manchester, the UK National Committee on China, and the Manchester China Forum.