With the support of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information Technology and British Embassy in Beijing, the 2022 China-UK Hydrogen Energy Industry Forum, which was co-sponsored by Beijing Tsinghua Industrial R&D Institute (BTIRDI) and Energy Research Accelerator (ERA), was held virtually in Beijing on March 18. Ms. Danae Dholakia, Minister Counsellor Prosperity at British Embassy Beijing, Mr. Xuehai Peng, Deputy Director of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information Technology, Mr. Qinxian Jin, Vice Secretary General of Tsinghua University, also the Director of BTIRDI, and other honored guests attended the forum and made their speeches. Ms. Faye McAnulla, Programme Director of ERA, hosted the forum.

The Forum Held Virtually

Mr. Xuehai Peng said that to develop hydrogen energy industry is a strategic choice for Beijing to cope with climate change and achieve green and sustainable development, and is a crucial measure to promote energy transition and upgrading so as to help achieve China’s “dual carbon goals”. During the 14th five-year plan period, Beijing would let its advantages of resource agglomeration in science and technology, industry and talent come into full play, and would strengthen the policy guidance and industry cultivation, in a bid to build itself into the city of hydrogen energy industry with international influence.

Mr. Jin said that hydrogen is an ideal medium to promote the clean and efficient utilization of traditional chemical energy and the development of achieving the goal of peak carbon emissions, as well as a major strategy for the development of the global energy technology revolution. The BTIRDI has been deeply involved in the hydrogen energy industry for more than ten years. Through the exchange at the forum, it will further enhance the understanding between China and the UK in the field of hydrogen energy, and explore the development path of the hydrogen energy industry through mutually beneficial cooperation.

Ms. Danae Dholakia introduced the goal set by the UK government concerning hydrogen energy and the industry development situation in the country, emphasized the importance of cooperation in the bilateral relationship, and pointed out that through cooperation, the UK and China could move from setting goals to achieving success. She also looked forward to more in-depth exchanges and cooperation between China and the UK on hydrogen energy technology and industry. Sally Brewis, head of the hydrogen industry division at Midland Engine, introduced the development goals and status quo of the industry. Martin Freer, Director of the ERA, made an introduction to the research hub’s representative demonstration projects.

In the keynote speeches made by the Chinese side, Mr. Xiaolong Fu, associate director of BTIRDI, introduced the cooperation between BTIRDI and UNIDO of building the International Hydrogen Energy Center (IHEC), with the hope to jointly create a complete zero-carbon industrial environment through international cooperation; Professor Fuyuan Yang of the school of Vehicle and Mobility, Tsinghua University, introduced China’s current technological status and the latest progress in hydrogen production; Mr. Guoqiang Zhang, chairman of Beijing Sinohytec Co.,Ltd., introduced the industrialization status of hydrogen fuel cell vehicle in China and its successful application at the 2022 Beijing Winter Paralympic Games; Mr. Feng Song, partner of Tsinghua Innovation Ventures Co., Ltd., introduced the investment of BTIRDI in the field of hydrogen energy and the Development Plan of Hydrogen Energy Industry formulated by the China Hydrogen Alliance; Mr. Fei Deng, CTO of Shuimu Mingtuo Technology Co., Ltd., introduced the technical case and the economic calculation model of hydrogen and ammonia production by directly coupling large-scale renewable energy.

In the keynote speeches by the UK side, Ms. Faye McAnull introduced the hydrogen demonstration projects of ERA, as well as the situation of related industries and participating companies in the Hydex project; ERA Project Leader Sharon George introduced Keele University’s hydrogen energy demonstration facility and cooperation cases in hydrogen energy industry; Declan Allen, President of Horiba MIRA in the UK, introduced the development situation of hydrogen energy in central and surrounding areas of the UK, as well as MIRA’s exploration in the field of hydrogen energy; Duncan Yellen, President of Motive Technology Co., Ltd., ITM Power Group, introduced the technical achievements in the field of hydrogen production and hydrogenation and the future development direction of hydrogenation technology; Keith Budden, Commercial Director of the UK’s Centre of Excellence for Low Carbon and Fuel Cell Technologies (Cenex), introduced the situation of Cenex, a not-for-profit organization in the field of hydrogen energy, and its heavy-duty hydrogen trucks, offshore hydrogen transmission and other projects; Mr. Sai Gu, Vice President of the University of Warwick, analyzed the field of hydrogen energy’s source and application and introduced the new technology of hydrogen production through thermochemical oxidation process.