China Energy News in-depth report: Pengfei — Powering Ahead with Hydrogen, Endless Possibilities

The original text is as follows:

■ Zheng Peng

Founded in 1993, Pengfei Group employs 30,000 people and boasts total assets of RMB 150 billion. It is a digital, circular, and green enterprise that integrates coal mining, coking, power generation, hydrogen energy, smart logistics, real estate, and cultural‑tourism sectors, operating across Shanxi, Tianjin, Hubei, and other provinces and municipalities. The company ranks 244th on the China Top 500 Enterprises list and 92nd among China’s Top 500 Private Enterprises. Recognized by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology as Shanxi Province’s first DCMM‑certified enterprise, its Pengfei Coking Plant and Methanol‑to‑Hydrogen Heat‑Source Plant have been awarded the “Green Factory” designation.

■“Hydrogen-based decarbonization” has become the global trend in energy development.

The hydrogen energy industry is a strategic, pioneering emerging sector that embodies a key direction for future technological transformation and energy development.

Globally, the ongoing warming caused by the large-scale, unregulated emissions of greenhouse gases—primarily carbon dioxide—has become a transnational non‑traditional security issue. In 2022, global energy‑related CO₂ emissions exceeded 36.8 billion tonnes, posing a grave threat to human survival and sustainable development. Developed countries such as the United States, Japan, and Germany have elevated hydrogen energy to a strategic national priority, pursuing diversified deployment across sectors including hydrogen‑fuel vehicles and chemical industries. As a result, developing hydrogen energy has emerged as a consensus among the world’s major economies.

From China’s perspective, last year the country’s carbon dioxide emissions reached 12.1 billion tons, accounting for 30% of the global total—far surpassing those of other nations—with 80% of these emissions stemming from energy production and industrial processes. In recent years, China has been actively developing its hydrogen‑energy sector; notably, in March 2022, the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration jointly issued the “Medium- and Long-Term Plan for the Development of the Hydrogen Energy Industry (2021–2035),” which not only affirms hydrogen as an integral component of the nation’s future energy system but also designates it as a key priority within the strategy to develop strategic emerging industries. This move underscores hydrogen’s role as a new growth driver for building a green, low‑carbon industrial ecosystem and advancing industrial transformation and upgrading, marking a new phase in China’s hydrogen‑energy development. Against the broader backdrop of the “dual carbon” goals, hydrogen, with its unique advantages of zero pollution, zero emissions, and high efficiency, is steadily emerging as a central player in the energy landscape. Developing the hydrogen‑energy industry is both a necessary step to accelerate high‑quality development and an essential task for further extending industrial value chains and speeding up the construction of a modern industrial system. A zero‑emission, sustainable “hydrogen era” is fast approaching.

■ Developing hydrogen energy is integral to advancing high-quality development.

China is the world’s largest hydrogen producer, with an annual output of approximately 37.81 million tons in 2022. It also ranks first globally in installed renewable energy capacity, giving it tremendous potential to deliver clean, low‑carbon hydrogen. As the saying goes, “If hydrogen isn’t green, the entire hydrogen industry loses its purpose.” Only by leveraging low‑cost gray and blue hydrogen to expand hydrogen‑related applications in the short term—and by scaling up hydrogen‑equipment manufacturing through broad deployment—can we accelerate the transition to green hydrogen. In recent years, Shanxi Province has prioritized high‑quality development, identifying the hydrogen economy as a key pillar of its transformation. The province has proposed harnessing industrial by‑product hydrogen in Taiyuan, Lüliang, Yangquan, Changzhi, and other regions to drive the upgrading and transformation of industries such as transportation, coking, chemicals, and chlor‑alkali. This will enable the diversified, large‑scale application of hydrogen across sectors including mobility, energy storage, and industrial processes. Lüliang City places great emphasis on developing the hydrogen sector, adopting a strategic framework of “one core, two wings, three hubs, and four chains,” and accelerating the establishment of a complete “gas–station–vehicle” value chain. The city is committed to becoming a northern hydrogen hub and a pioneering zone for hydrogen production and application. Meanwhile, Xiaoyi City, taking the creation of a provincial-level specialized town for oxygen‑energy as a key initiative, is focused on building a hydrogen‑industry base worth hundreds of billions of yuan. It is fully supporting the growth of the gas‑energy sector, further expanding and diversifying hydrogen‑application scenarios, and strategically deploying integrated energy stations, hydrogen‑powered buses, and hydrogen‑electric shared bicycles. All these efforts have opened up new opportunities and provided solid support for strengthening and scaling up China’s hydrogen industry, propelling it onto a fast track of robust growth.

■ Accelerating the development of a new economic growth pathway by building a hydrogen energy industry chain

For more than 30 years, Pengfei has steadfastly adhered to the principle that “national strategy is Pengfei’s paramount strategy, and the rhythm of the times guides our progress.” The company has meticulously cultivated traditional energy sectors while pursuing a green transformation to build its brand. Through integrated vertical and horizontal development, it has established strong brands and enhanced competitiveness in conventional energy fields such as coal‑coking, and, leveraging its solid foothold in traditional industries, has aggressively entered the new‑energy sector to create the Pengfei Hydrogen Energy brand. With a global outlook and a vision for the future, and grounded in the currents of contemporary development, Pengfei has undertaken comprehensive planning for the hydrogen‑energy industry. It is constructing the Pengwan Hydrogen Port Industrial Park—a fully integrated hub encompassing green and blue hydrogen production, storage, transportation, refueling, utilization, research, and development, as well as hydrogen‑powered heavy‑truck manufacturing, fuel‑cell stacks, systems, trailers, and related equipment—with a total investment of RMB 78 billion and covering 116,200 mu (approximately 77.5 square kilometers). Upon completion, the project is expected to generate an annual output value of RMB 180 billion, annual tax and profit contributions of RMB 27.5 billion, and support employment for 35,000 people. Benefiting from the favorable business environment fostered by Party committees and governments at all levels to promote hydrogen‑energy development, Pengfei Hydrogen Energy has pursued sustained, coordinated innovation—both internally and externally. Its nationally pioneering provincial‑level hydrogen‑energy pilot‑scale testing base, covering 11 R&D topics spanning production, storage, transportation, and equipment manufacturing, has received official approval from the Shanxi Provincial Department of Science and Technology. This facility can serve as a pilot platform for domestic and international R&D projects in the hydrogen‑energy field, facilitating the translation of scientific advances into practical applications. In addition, Pengfei has established strategic partnerships with institutions such as Shanghai Jiao Tong University and North China University of Science and Technology, jointly building the “Advanced Manufacturing Joint Laboratory for Hydrogen‑Energy Vehicles” and the “Shanxi Provincial Key Laboratory for Advanced Carbon‑Based Electrode Materials,” thereby creating collaborative platforms for industry–university–research–application integration. Furthermore, Pengfei has set up dedicated leadership and task‑force teams to tackle key industry challenges, focusing on hydrogen‑safety issues, improvements in production efficiency and process technologies, and the refinement of critical equipment. In 2022, Pengfei commissioned what is now the largest and most technologically advanced single‑unit, 20,000‑ton‑per‑year high‑purity hydrogen production facility in China; the newly completed Bei Yao Comprehensive Hydrogen‑Refueling Energy Island boasts a daily hydrogen‑refueling capacity of 4 tons, making it the nation’s highest‑capacity integrated gas‑and‑hydrogen refueling station. Moreover, the first batch of 100 zero‑carbon hydrogen‑powered heavy trucks has been deployed, setting a national record for the largest number, longest mileage, and best operational performance among similar demonstration projects. Simultaneously, the world’s first independently developed 250 kW single‑stack hydrogen fuel‑cell power system was unveiled. In 2023, Pengfei Group was recognized by the Shanxi Provincial Department of Science and Technology as a provincial demonstration base for the commercialization of hydrogen‑energy technologies. The company is also leading the formulation of two national group standards: one on “Energy Consumption Quotas and Calculation Methods for Producing High‑Purity Gas from Coke Oven Gas,” and another on “Safety Requirements for Converting Coke Oven Gas into High‑Purity Hydrogen.”

At present, projects such as Pengfei’s production of ultra‑high‑purity hydrogen from coke oven off‑gas and the first water electrolysis system for green hydrogen have been commissioned one after another. As we accelerate the development of a complete “gas‑station‑transportation‑vehicle” industrial chain, Pengfei’s strategic vision for future growth has become increasingly clear and resolute: wherever there is hydrogen, there will be Pengfei Hydrogen Energy. By empowering the traditional coal‑coking industry, we are extending its reach to unlock the transformative potential of hydrogen—redefining how humanity lives, works, and interacts with the environment. We are building specialized towns centered on hydrogen energy and vigorously planning and deploying the “Hydrogen to Every Home – Hydrogen Energy Town” science and technology demonstration project. This will fundamentally reshape residents’ energy consumption patterns, replacing polluting conventional fuels with clean hydrogen power. Leveraging the Pengfei Hydrogen Energy Base, the entire town is positioning itself to cultivate a hundred‑billion‑yuan‑scale hydrogen economy. We are also aggressively promoting green mobility, speeding up the research, development, and widespread adoption of hydrogen fuel‑cell buses, passenger cars, motorcycles, and hydrogen‑electric shared bicycles. Looking ahead, our goal is simple: wherever roads exist, there will be Pengfei hydrogen‑powered vehicles; wherever people live, there will be Pengfei hydrogen‑powered personal mobility solutions, with all logistics and passenger transport running on hydrogen‑powered fleets. Furthermore, we are advancing the hydrogen‑based health sector, building on the hydrogen‑energy industrial foundation of Pengwan Hydrogen Port to create distinctive agricultural brands—hydrogen‑enriched water, hydrogen‑infused vegetables, fruits, and tofu. Our aim is to help every user of hydrogen energy enjoy longer, healthier, and happier lives. We seek to bring the benefits of Pengfei products and Pengfei energy to more people, ensuring that the Pengfei hydrogen brand serves the greater good. In the future, wherever there is energy, there will be hydrogen; wherever there is hydrogen, there will be Pengfei. Pengfei stands as the trusted brand ambassador for hydrogen‑based manufacturing—this is our most inspiring vision. Guided by the Pengfei spirit of “daring to lead, striving for excellence, growing stronger day by day, and thriving year after year,” our vision will surely turn ever brighter, greener, and better. We are committed to forging a path that promotes human health and transforms the global energy landscape. Pengfei Group looks forward to joining hands with all stakeholders to accelerate the emergence of new‑type productive forces, harnessing the synergies of technology, finance, industry, and media, and contributing Pengfei’s unique strength to China’s high‑quality development and the advancement of Chinese‑style modernization.