Reporter Takes You to the Forum (Part 1): The Hydrogen Energy Forum Draws a Crowded Audience; the Hydrogen Economy Captures Widespread Attention

Release Date:

2022-09-05

2022 Taiyuan Energy and Low-Carbon Development Forum

The highly anticipated 2022 Taiyuan Forum on Energy and Low-Carbon Development was held in Taiyuan, Shanxi, from September 1 to 3. The forum was of the highest caliber: Han Zheng, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, attended the opening ceremony via video link and delivered a keynote address. As an important platform for observing China’s progress in low-carbon energy development, the Taiyuan Forum showcased groundbreaking technologies, emerging industries, and new professions, injecting fresh vitality and strong momentum into the field of low‑carbon growth. Among its thirteen sub‑forums, the Hydrogen Economy Development Forum drew particular attention. Hosted by Pengfei Group, the event attracted extensive interest from top experts and scholars—from the United Nations to China—as well as provincial and municipal leaders, with broad participation from multiple stakeholders engaged in discussions on the future of the hydrogen economy.

The theme of this sub-forum is “Green and Low-Carbon, Hydrogen Powers the Future.” Hosted by the International Renewable Energy Agency, the China Hydrogen Energy Alliance, the Shanxi Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, and the People’s Government of Lüliang City, the event was co-organized by the Xiaoyi Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government, along with Pengfei Group. Around the venue, reporters observed a full array of promotional display boards and informational materials, with smooth and well-coordinated conference logistics. At approximately 8:30 a.m., Zheng Peng, Chairman of the Board and President of Pengfei Group, accompanied Shanxi Vice Governor Zhang Fuming, Han Wei, Executive Deputy Secretary-General of the China Hydrogen Energy Alliance, Wu Hongwen, Party Secretary of the Shanxi Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, and Lin Zhongqin, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, President of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and Deputy Secretary of its Party Committee, among other leading officials and scholars, as they entered the exhibition corridor to listen to briefings and pose for group photos.

This forum can truly be described as a star-studded event. According to the agenda, the forum comprises four segments: opening remarks by distinguished guests, keynote speeches, a roundtable discussion, and the unveiling of reports.

Chairman Zheng Peng attended the two middle segments of the event. At the same time, more than 20 distinguished guests from around the world took to the stage—either via video link or in person—to discuss the future of Shanxi’s hydrogen‑energy economy under the dual‑carbon framework and to outline a roadmap for the industry’s development. As a secondary energy source that is abundant, green, low‑carbon, and widely applicable, hydrogen is steadily emerging as one of the key enablers of the global energy transition; accordingly, this forum has drawn keen attention from participants across the board.

In addition to the guests, the media also showed particular interest in this forum. More than 20 media outlets, ranging from central to local and from domestic to international, sent over 40 reporters to cover the event. When asked why they were especially drawn to this forum, they told reporters:

Tencent Cloud Energy Business Unit:

New energy is also a promising area of development. Tencent has recently made new strategic moves in this field and has launched a number of innovative products. We are particularly optimistic about Shanxi’s prospects in developing a hydrogen‑based economy, as the province is a major energy hub and coal‑chemical industries represent a significant source of hydrogen. Our focus will be on the coal‑chemical sector, with the hope of collaborating in the future on digital‑energy integration under the dual‑carbon framework and in comprehensive energy management.

Shanxi Delya Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd.:

The company primarily provides environmental consulting and environmental engineering services. Given that Shanxi is a major coal-producing province, hydrogen production from coal represents a significant growth opportunity, and we are paying close attention to this area.

According to reports, the forum lasted three hours. At its conclusion, the “Strategic Research Report on the Development of the Hydrogen Energy Industry in the Petrochemical and Chemical Sectors,” jointly released by the China Hydrogen Energy Alliance and the Lüliang Municipal Government, was unveiled. On the afternoon of September 3, invited guests and media representatives visited Xiaoyi Pengfei Group, touring sites including the Pengwan Hydrogen Port, the Beiyao Hydrogen Refueling Energy Island, and the group’s 5G‑enabled central dispatch smart management platform, where they conducted on‑site research and inspections.