A hydrogen energy industry development summit takes place in Datong, Shanxi province, Dec 9. [Photo/Xinhua]

Datong in North China's Shanxi province hosted a summit on the development of hydrogen energy industry on Dec 9 with some 100 experts, scholars and entrepreneurs exploring ideas and putting forward suggestions on Datong’s transformation from coal to a hydrogen energy capital of China.

Reports on developments in hydrogen fuel cells and Datong's hydrogen energy industry by academics and researchers from Chinese Academy of Engineering, Tsinghua University, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics were delivered at the summit.

Zhang Jifu, a top government official of Datong, stressed that the city will do whatever it takes to boost the hydrogen energy industry in order to advance the transformation of local industry.

So far, Datong has laid out a new energy industrial development plan by focusing on hydrogen energy projects, according to Mayor Wu Hongwen. Projects such as the Datong New Energy Industrial City, Hushang Hydrogen Energy Industrial Park, hydrogen energy buses and hydrogen stations have started construction.