Shell has announced the commencement of green hydrogen production at its first commercial hydrogen development project in China. The electrolyser in Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province, China is one of the world’s largest hydrogen electrolysers.
This electrolyser will provide about half of the green hydrogen required for fuel cell vehicles at the Zhangjiakou competition zone during the Winter Olympic Games, which will start on Friday.
“The electrolyser is the largest in our portfolio to date and is in line with Shell’s Powering Progress strategy, which includes plans to build on our leading position in hydrogen,” said Wael Sawan, Shell’s Integrated Gas, Renewable and Energy Solutions Director.
The project is part of the joint venture between Shell China and Zhangjiakou City Transport Construction Investment Holding Group. The first phase involves the establishment of the 20 MW power-to-hydrogen electrolyser and hydrogen refuelling stations in Zhangjiakou. In the next phase, the firms intend to scale up to 60 MW in the next two years.
The project required only 13 months to complete. It will use onshore wind power and initially supply green hydrogen to more than 600 fuel cell vehicles at the competition zone. The fuel will later be used for public and commercial transport in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei.
Bai Jing, Director, Zhangjiakou Municipal Development and Reform Commission, said, “This project will help secure hydrogen supply for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and make it a green one while contributing to the development of hydrogen industry in the city and the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.”
Bai Jing added, “The hydrogen industry is critical for Zhangjiakou’s transition to low-carbon energy and to achieve the city’s carbon peak and carbon neutrality targets. The recent approval of the Hebei Fuel Cell Vehicle Demonstration City Cluster, which is led by our city, will also accelerate the development of the hydrogen industry in our city.”
