China

BAOTOU - The global transition towards cleaner energy sources has been gaining momentum, and the focus has shifted towards green hydrogen as a clean energy alternative. In this context, the construction of the International Hydrogen Energy Metallurgy and Chemical Demonstration Zone in Baotou, Inner Mongolia, marks a significant milestone in the pursuit of sustainable and zero-carbon technologies.The project is led by the International Hydrogen Energy Centre (IHEC), supported by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and hosted by the Beijing Tsinghua Industrial Research and Development Institute (TIDRI) and the Chinese metal manufacturer, the Mintal Group.Ammonia is produced in vast quantities worldwide for agricultural fertilizers. However the traditional production method uses natural gas or other fossil fuels to provide both the hydrogen feedstock and the energy to power the synthesis process. As a result, ammonia production releases almost 1.5% of global CO₂ emissions. Reducing the amount of carbon dioxide produced during the ammonia manufacturing process is therefore critical to achieve net-zero targets by 2050.The best way to reduce carbon emissions when making ammonia is to use green hydrogen, which is hydrogen produced via water electrolysis using renewable electricity.In its first phase, the IHEC project will build a 1.5GW wind power farm to produce green hydrogen for green ammonia synthesis. The first batch of 390,000 tonnes of green ammonia per year is set to be supplied in early 2025.On 15 April, the day before the ground-breaking ceremony marking the start of construction of the industrial zone, nearly 200 representatives of stakeholders from different regions, countries and industries attended the China-Europe Hydrogen Energy Industry Forum in Baotou. At the event, organized by the IHEC, participants discussed the role of hydrogen in the clean energy transition and the potential for cooperation between China and Europe.

VIENNA, 22 JUNE 2022 – The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the International Hydrogen Energy Centre (IHEC) organized a virtual Expert Group Meeting (EGM) on capacity building and to establish a Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC).“There are numerous activities related to Hydrogen throughout the world and progress is gradually being achieved”, said UNIDO Chief Rana Ghoneim, speaking on behalf of Tareq Emtairah, Director of the Department of Energy. “Still, to successfully transition to a hydrogen economy and global trade, the international cooperation on the entire value chain must be enhanced”.“Indeed, the international standards and certification systems are to be gradually improved”, said FU Xiaolong, Deputy Director of the Beijing Tsinghua Industrial Development Research Institute, which is hosting the IHEC ever since its inception in July 2021. “They are essential to facilitate cooperation and development and the use of renewables, nuclear, geothermal and other low/zero carbon generation should be considered in global standards, policies and project developments”.The EGM exchanged on the progress of hydrogen development progress and provided advice on potential challenges to accelerate scaling-up production, transportation, storage and use of hydrogen, including the balance between supply and demand also related to clean energy sources.The EGM also reviewed the progress, work plan and draft outline of the Global Green Hydrogen Development Outlook in industry, which IHEC is currently developing, and agreed on a series of conclusion, including the need to set-up a global hydrogen information and knowledge-sharing network as well as to further emphasize related safety approaches. Furthermore, the EGM reiterated that globally harmonized standards and norms would be of great benefit to a global deployment and cooperation of hydrogen, and that, in an initial phase, IHEC could focus more on global standardization in the hydrogen production, transportation and storage area, and especially metallurgical standards.The EGM further commended IHEC for its progress and for its comprehensive work plan taking into account the importance of accessible and affordable access to clean energy, especially to reduce the dependency of developing countries on energy imports, whereby hydrogen could be generated and used in a local-for-local business model.For more information, please contact:LIU HengSenior Technical AdviserEnergy Technologies and Industrial Applications Division, Department of EnergyUnited Nations Industrial Development Organizationh.liu@unido.org

Photo: IHECSince its inception on 7 July 2021, and with the support of the Government of China and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the International Hydrogen Energy Centre (IHEC) has been promoting the development of hydrogen energy, including through the world's largest demonstration project – jointly led by IHEC and Beijing Sinohytec – of hydrogen fuel cell commercial vehicles during the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics as more than 850 hydrogen fuel cell buses were used to transport athletes and officials with 9 green hydrogen refueling stations built in Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province. In total, the buses operated over 3.2 million kilometers and consumed around 200 tons of green hydrogen, which saved an estimated 2,000 tons of carbon.Another IHEC flagship programme, which was developed with the Shuimu Mingtuo Group and Hualu, is the establishment of the International Hydrogen Energy Metallurgy and Chemical Demonstration Zone, which is the world's first comprehensive demonstration project on green hydrogen production and its applications for the metallurgical and chemicals industries. The zone’s construction in Baotou, Inner Mongolia, is planned to start at the end of 2022 and should start its official operations in 2025.The feasibility study report was completed in close cooperation with ThyssenKrupp Technology (Shanghai), the General Electric Power Planning and Design Institute, and Aerospace Changzheng Chemical Engineering. The research and engineering design of the green ammonia is under development in close cooperation with Rhine Technology (Shanghai), TUV (Germany) and Hualu Engineering Technology.The demonstration zone is intended to promote the formation of a green and low-carbon chemical industry chain and achieve comprehensive carbon neutrality in the metallurgical and chemical industries. The annual capacity of green hydrogen is expected to be 300,000 tons derived from building the country’s largest 5-million-kilowatt wind power generation and 1.5 million kilowatt photovoltaic power. China’s first set of 2×550,000 tons of direct reduced iron will be built using green hydrogen as a reducing agent. At the same time, using green hydrogen and air-captured nitrogen as raw materials, the project will produce an annual production capacity of 1.2 million tons of green ammonia synthesis. For more information, please contact:LIU HengSenior Technical Advisor, Department of Energy,  UNIDOEmail

VIENNA, 7 July 2021 – The launch and inauguration of the International Hydrogen Energy Centre (IHEC), a key knowledge partner for the UNIDO Global Programme for Green Hydrogen in Industry, was held virtually.“The new Centre is an important milestone on the road towards placing hydrogen at the heart of sustainable development”, said Director of Energy, Tareq Emtairah on behalf of UNIDO Director General LI Yong in the opening remarks. “IHEC will undertake partnership and technical cooperation activities while disseminating its best practices and knowledge through UNIDO’s extensive network of international and national offices, centres and projects”.The IHEC aims to achieve technological breakthroughs and play a strategic role in helping develop the global hydrogen energy industry by promoting best practices through south-south, triangular and regional cooperation; by carrying out technology research, development and application; and by supporting capacity building towards enhancing green hydrogen economies.“UNIDO and the Government of China recognize the crucial role that hydrogen can play in the future energy system”, said UNIDO Senior Technical Advisor and Project Manager LIU Heng. “They understood the urgent need to promote Hydrogen technology to make it more scalable, inclusive and affordable globally. The IHEC will therefore work with different stakeholders, including governments, private sector and SMEs, R&D institutions, business and industry associations”.The IHEC was inaugurated by ZHANG Yi, Deputy Director General of China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges, Ministry of Commerce (CICETE); JIANG Guangzhi, Deputy Director General of Beijing Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information; Ma Jian, Deputy Representative of UNIDO Regional Office in Beijing and JIN Qinxian, Director of Beijing Tsinghua Industrial Research and Development Institute.For more information about the Centre, please contact:LIU HengSenior Technical AdvisorDepartment of Energy, UNIDOEmailEmail