China is going to build 6 000 km hydrogen pipeline network

China has announced its plans to construct a vast hydrogen pipeline network stretching over 6,000km, connecting regions rich in wind and solar resources to areas with high demand for green hydrogen. The aim is to address the significant demand for hydrogen in the country and facilitate the transportation of hydrogen produced in the northern and western regions to the south and east, where demand centers are located.

During the World Hydrogen Technology Convention in Guangdong province, Li Guohui, Vice President of China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Corporation (CPPEC), shared that China expects its hydrogen demand to reach 100 million tonnes per year by 2060. However, the challenge lies in the geographical distribution of hydrogen resources, primarily situated in the windy and sunny northwest, northeast, and midwest regions. These regions are also crucial for China's refining and chemical industries, which are major consumers of hydrogen. In contrast, the demand centers are predominantly located in the eastern and southern parts of the country. This necessitates the development of infrastructure to transport hydrogen, whether green or grey, to meet market demands.

Li further mentioned that the planned hydrogen pipeline network aims to span 6,000km by 2050, providing accessibility to hydrogen asset owners and traders. However, there are concerns regarding the integration of grey hydrogen, predominantly derived from coal, with renewable green hydrogen in the pipelines. Such integration could undermine the positive environmental benefits of green hydrogen.

Notably, Sinopec, a state-owned oil giant, intends to construct a pipeline covering 400km to transport 100,000 tonnes of green hydrogen annually from Ulanqab in Inner Mongolia to its Yanshan Petrochemical complex in Beijing. PetroChina has also commenced the construction of a pipeline from the Yumen oilfield in Gansu province, facilitating the transport of green hydrogen. Presently, China has only three existing hydrogen pipelines, spanning less than 100km, whereas globally, most of the 5,000km of hydrogen pipelines are operated by companies such as Air Liquide, Air Products, and Linde.

China's initiative aligns with the efforts of other countries, such as Germany and the Netherlands, which are also planning their own national hydrogen pipeline networks. The development of extensive hydrogen infrastructure is crucial for the growth and utilization of this clean energy source, enabling the transition to a more sustainable future.