Shanghai (ZXZC)- Guangzhou, the capital of China's Guangdong province, expects over 50 hydrogen refueling stations to be deployed and the terminal price of vehicle-used hydrogen to stand below 35 yuan ($5.5)/kg by 2025, according to a development plan that will run through 2025 Guangzhou Municipal Development and Reform Commission issued earlier this week.

AION LX Fuel Cell; photo credit: GAC Group

In the 14th five-year plan period (2021-2025), Guangzhou will move faster on forming the network for hydrogen production, supply, and storage, and building a hub for supplying fuel cells with hydrogen by leveraging the hydrogen production capability of the companies like SINOPEC's Guangzhou branch, according to the development plan.

Under the plan, Guangzhou will develop highly efficient and reliable technologies and facilities related to hydrogen manufacturing, storage, transport, and refueling by utilizing the resources from such innovation platforms as Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Stroage Materials, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fuel Cell Technologies, and Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Besides, Guangzhou's authorities will encourage eligible regions and market entities to carry out demonstration and construction of hydrogen filling stations, prompt existing gas stations and hydrogen refueling stations to revamp or upgrade their hydrogen filling facilities, and proactively explore the mixture building development model.

The plan also shows Guangzhou's resolution to make breakthroughs in fuel cell-related core technologies and basic materials, including fuel cell stack, membrane electrode, bipolar plate, proton exchange membrane, catalyst, air compressor, hydrogen circulatory system, and low-costed hydrogen.

Guangzhou aims to lift its new energy vehicle parc to 800,000 units by 2025, over 2,500 units of which will be fuel cell vehicles.