With the intensification of global environmental pollution and greenhouse effect, green energy based on atomic energy, wind energy, hydro energy, solar energy, hydrogen energy and so on has gradually entered people's field of vision. Among them, hydrogen is the most common element in the universe, which can be produced by fossil energy or water electrolysis, and is a renewable energy source. Hydrogen is the least dense gas, non-toxic, clean, high fuel value, high energy density, and extremely flammable, liquid hydrogen can be used as rocket fuel. Hydrogen energy is low-carbon, or even zero-carbon, and is one of the most ideal clean energy sources for the future of mankind. In 2019, the "** Work Report" proposed to "promote the construction of charging, hydrogen refueling and other facilities", which is the first time that hydrogen as an energy source has been written into China's "** Work Report", which is of milestone significance for the promotion and application of hydrogen energy in China. China has a huge hydrogen production capacity and application demand, what will be the far-reaching impact of the development of hydrogen energy on China's energy security and environmental protection? What will the future of the "hydrogen society" look like? How will hydrogen change our lives?
Gan Yong, an expert in metallurgical materials, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, former vice president of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, director of the National Expert Advisory Committee for the Development of New Materials Industry, honorary chairman of the Chinese Society for Metals, and chairman of the consortium of the Advanced Materials Society of the China Association for Science and Technology. He has long been engaged in the basic theory and technology integration research of continuous casting engineering and new technology in the field of iron and steel metallurgy, as well as engineering research and technology promotion in near-final shape and high-efficiency continuous casting. For the first time, a semi-quantitative formula for calculating sub-rapidly solidifying CET free grains was proposed. Successfully developed the first semi-industrial and industrial experimental thin slab continuous casting unit in China; He presided over the development of key equipment and system technologies for high-efficiency continuous casting, formed high-efficiency continuous casting software and hardware supporting engineering technologies with independent property rights, and popularized the high-efficiency continuous casting technology of billet with unique continuous taper crystallizer, leaf spring-directed vibration and continuous straightening as the core.
one
What are the application scenarios of hydrogen fuel cells?
There are two paths for the conversion and optimization of the energy structure: one is that non-renewable fossil energy is replaced by renewable green energy; The second is the transition from high-carbon to low-carbon processes. At present, the utilization of hydrogen energy, especially in automotive fuel cells, has achieved a breakthrough in the application. The hydrogen fuel cell is a mobile generator, and without thermal cycling, it can increase the efficiency to 90%, and the power generation efficiency is very high. How does hydrogen become electricity? Instead of thermal cycling, hydrogen emits two electrons under a platinum-containing catalyst to form an electric current.
The International Commission on Hydrogen Energy believes that mankind will enter the hydrogen era in the 21st century**In 2050, the global demand for hydrogen energy will increase to 10 times the current level, and the output value of the global hydrogen energy industry chain will exceed 2 in 2050$5 trillion. The use of hydrogen energy can not only reduce billions of tons of carbon dioxide emissions every year, but also form a huge industrial field and provide tens of millions of jobs.
In addition to the application of hydrogen in automobiles, hydrogen can also be applied to deep-sea diving, drones, high-speed trains and other equipment, as long as mobile devices need power, hydrogen fuel cells can be applied. In the 5G era, hydrogen can also be used in the energy system and power supply system of all base stations. In terms of distributed power generation in life, in fact, every household can put a hydrogen fuel cell power generation device to cool and heat, generate electricity and power supply, and almost all household appliances can use it. In addition, a hydrogen pipeline can supply all the energy needed into the home, which is very efficient and convenient.
Compared with lithium power batteries, lithium power batteries are used as the main power source in heavy-duty aerospace or large-scale mobile devices, and its mileage is not enough, and the energy density is not as high as hydrogen fuel cells. So,For such a high-power transportation vehicle in aerospace, the use of hydrogen fuel cells is very suitable.
Is hydrogen safe
With so many advantages, is there a danger in using hydrogen? There is always a certain danger in any fuel, and hydrogen as a fuel is no exception, butHydrogen is not toxic when burnedIt's not like toxic gases that smoke people down. In terms of the best properties of fuel, hydrogen is 12 times faster than gasoline, and it will spread quickly after combustion, and it may jump up all of a sudden, but it will not cause other more serious consequences. We did a test under the condition that gasoline and hydrogen fuel cars burned and caught fire, respectivelyWhen hydrogen is burned, it will burst into flames, but it spreads quickly and rarely affects other parts of the car; And gasoline does not have time to spread, it will spread and burn other places, causing the entire car to be burned. So in terms of safety, hydrogen is slightly safer than gasoline. Of course, since hydrogen is a fuel, it is still relatively dangerous, especially in the beginning of the promotion period, such as the 19th century, when oxygen was very dangerous, but after all the rules are set, everyone can use it with more peace of mind. So,The establishment of a hydrogen system requires the development of absolutely safe hydrogen operation rulesIf the rules and standards for hydrogen production, transportation, refueling, and hydrogen storage are formulated, and the entire hydrogen use rules are used, the danger can be controlled, and the safety will be greatly improved. For example, hydrogen energy is widely used in Japan, and it also has a leading edge in marketing, and many hydrogen refueling stations and gas stations in Japan are laid out together, only separated by a wall, and next to the community. It can be seen that if the technology and standards are developed and formulated well, the danger of hydrogen will be controlled.
Is hydrogen the terminator of smog?
China's diesel car population accounts for about 9% of the existing car population, but it contributes significantly to the problem of smog. The "contribution rate" of automobile exhaust emissions to the overall smog is about one-third, of which diesel vehicles account for about 70%, and this problem must be solved. Diesel vehicles are very concentrated in China's ports, taking an industrial city in the north as an example, this area has a very large flow of goods, it is a heavy chemical area, and the output of steel is very large. One ton of steel probably produces about five or six tons of material, and it is most convenient to transport it from the port to the steel mill by heavy truck. Among the more than 2 million cars here, there are nearly 200,000 diesel vehicles, which emit a lot of emissions and cause serious pollutionThe implementation of "diesel to hydrogen" in this place will effectively reduce the pressure of haze in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.
Judging from the characteristics of the hydrogen fuel cell itself, it is suitable for long-distance endurance with heavy loads, and can run 600 to 1,000 kilometers back and forth in the port, and there is no problem with heavy loads. Ports with dense diesel vehicles are easy to lay out hydrogen refueling stationsMoreover, almost all domestic ports are heavy chemical areas, and industrial by-product hydrogen is also abundant. Coupled with the fact that ports are generally close to the sea, it is easy to transport hydrogen fuel by sea**.
Visible,"Diesel to hydrogen" can be started from the diesel vehicles in the port, along the transportation route to lay out hydrogen refueling stations, unified hydrogen refueling, a large number of intensive use of hydrogen, the formation of scale effect, so as to reduce costs, improve efficiencyIt is very practical to use the environment to drive the development of hydrogen energy and hydrogen fuel, so that it can be operated commercially, instead of operating at a loss all the time and relying on state subsidies. Therefore, "diesel to hydrogen" represents the direction of a technical route, especially on the heavy truck in the port. If the road of "diesel to hydrogen" is successful, we can set up demonstration sites in port cities. For example, we have established a hydrogen energy utilization system in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, which can partially or fundamentally solve the smog problem in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region in a very short period of time.
Is hydrogen still far away?
By the end of 2022, a total of 814 hydrogen refueling stations were in operation around the world, with Europe, Asia, and North America still being the main regions for hydrogen refueling station construction. The world's major developed countries have raised the development and utilization of hydrogen energy to the strategic level of national energy security. There is data showing thatAs of October 2023, China has sold a total of 18,197 hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, and built a total of 417 hydrogen refueling stations, ranking first in the world. According to **, by 2030, the output value of the hydrogen energy industry will exceed 1 trillion yuan; The number of hydrogen refueling stations has reached 1,000, and the number of fuel cell vehicles has reached 2 million. What is the layout of the development of China's hydrogen energy industry? What are the challenges?
The advantages of hydrogen energy development in China are relatively obvious. First of all, the state attaches great importance to the development of the hydrogen energy industryOutline of the National Medium- and Long-Term Science and Technology Development Plan (2006-2020).Hydrogen and hydrogen fuel cells are planned; Later"Made in China 2025".The roadmap for energy-saving and new energy vehicles also takes hydrogen energy and fuel cell vehicles as a major development direction; In 2016, the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration jointly issued the Action Plan for Energy Technology Revolution and Innovation (2016-2030).It is proposed to increase the application of hydrogen energy and fuel cells; Especially2019 "** Work Report".It is clearly proposed to promote the construction of charging, hydrogen refueling and other facilities. The current application of hydrogen energy and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles has set off a climaxBeijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, including Hubei, Chongqing, Zhejiang, Guangdongand so on, and began the research and development and commercial operation of automotive hydrogen fuel cells. In fact, China's hydrogen production industry base is still very strong, and the hydrogen production capacity is also at the forefront in the world. When hydrogen was not yet an important energy source, it was widely used as a catalyst and reducing agent. For example, the annual output of synthetic ammonia refining and hydrogenation is more than 20 million tons. In short, China's future development of hydrogen potential is huge, the market is huge, our commercial vehicles, port trucks, logistics vehicles, and our passenger cars, the number is very large, and there will be more and more application scenarios.
Many places are competing to develop hydrogen energy. The whole industrial chain of China's hydrogen energy industry has been initially opened, and the layout of the hydrogen energy industry has been significantly accelerated. As an important aspect of the development of the hydrogen energy industry, fuel cell vehicles are expected to usher in explosive growth in the next two to three years. The National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration jointly issued itMedium and Long-term Plan for the Development of Hydrogen Energy Industry (2021-2035).It has drawn a blueprint for the medium and long-term development of China's hydrogen energy industry. Various localities have also seized the commanding heights of hydrogen energy development, and the industrial layout is blooming everywhere. There are already soMore than 20 provinces and cities have made development plans for hydrogen energy and hydrogen fuel vehiclesMoreover, it has formed industrial clusters of hydrogen energy and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in East China, Central China, South China, North China, Northeast China, Southwest China, etcShanghai, Rugao, Foshan, Zhangjiakou, Wuhanand some other representative cities. Various localities have successively issued hydrogen-related policies, and built a policy system covering all aspects of scientific and technological innovation, application demonstration, infrastructure, and industrial layout. Such as:In 2021, Beijing issued the "Implementation Plan for the Development of Hydrogen Energy Industry in Beijing (2021-2025)".It plays a positive role in guiding and promoting the development of the industry. During the Beijing Winter Olympics, thousands of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles served to ensure the Winter Olympics and achieve the world's largest demonstration application. And there isTangshan, HebeiThe implementation plan for the development of the hydrogen energy industry has been introduced, which proposes to strive to build 30 hydrogen refueling stations by 2025, strive to operate 2,500 hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, and achieve 20 billion yuan in operating income of the hydrogen energy industry. Rugao, Jiangsu, is a "United Nations Hydrogen Economy Demonstration City". And there isShandongThe concept of a hydrogen valley was proposed, and a master plan was developed, among other things.
How to make a breakthrough in China's hydrogen energy industry
At present, the development prospects of China's hydrogen energy industry are broad, but in order to achieve rapid and healthy development, it is necessary to change the status quo that hydrogen energy production mainly relies on fossil energy, clean energy hydrogen production and hydrogen as an energy source is still relatively small. It is necessary to overcome the technical difficulties of hydrogen core products such as proton exchange membrane packs, engines, and sensors, and solve practical problems such as the immaturity of hydrogen transmission network systems and the lack of commercial applications.
Promote the development of the whole hydrogen energy industry chain and lay out the hydrogen energy industry demonstration zone. In the utilization of hydrogen energy, we must not first drive and then hydrogen, but should go first, at least the car and hydrogen should be synchronized, which can effectively promote the development of fuel cells and fuel cell vehicles, otherwise it will not be achieved quickly. Because the hydrogen energy industry chain is long, it spans many fields of energy and chemical industry, and the hydrogen system is also very complex, so to promote the development of the whole hydrogen industry chain, we must take the enterprise as the main body, take the capital as the link, concentrate the domestic advantageous units to make the team strength bigger and stronger, and then make the planning of the whole industrial chain of the hydrogen system, build a hydrogen energy system in the development of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, and achieve orderly development. All localities should standardize the layout, direction and planning of hydrogen energy development in each region according to local characteristics, energy endowments, environmental conditions, and technical capabilities.
Establish a major national special project for hydrogen energy and create an era of hydrogen energy heavy trucks. Through the establishment of major national special projects to solve major technical equipment and engineering problems in the industrial chain. There are many ports with dense ports of heavy diesel vehicles in the countryFrom Zhangjiagang, Huanghua Port, Lianyungang to Qingdao PortThey are all heavy chemical industry clusters. These port areas with dense diesel vehicles can create the era of heavy trucks with hydrogen energy, and the establishment of hydrogen systems and the trial operation of hydrogen fuel vehicles for heavy trucks will be started first.
Make full use of waste electricity to reduce the cost of hydrogen production. In recent years, China's wind power, nuclear power, photovoltaic cells, hydropower, biomass energy and other developments have been very fast. In particular, wind power and photovoltaic power generation are the largest in the world in terms of installed capacity and power generation, but due to the instability of wind power and photovoltaic, it is difficult to integrate into the national grid, resulting in the curtailment of wind, water and solar power in China is also very serious. If nearly 100 billion kWh of electricity is used to produce hydrogen every year, the cost will be reduced.
Therefore, in the formulation of the national strategy for the development of hydrogen energy as a whole, it is necessary to:Make good use of the 100 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity that is now curtailed by solar, wind, and water, including giving priority to the use of 10 million tons of industrial by-product hydrogenWe have to use these "two 1000s" well. At the same time, in port areas with a high concentration of heavy-duty diesel vehicles, starting with logistics or heavy-duty trucks, we will build a hydrogen energy system as a basis to solve the current smog or environmental pressing problems. Of course, we must also speed up the research and development of hydrogen fuel cells, reduce costs, increase power, and improve the quality of operation.
China is a country with a very fast industrialization process, and it is very important to establish an efficient and reasonable hydrogen energy system to promote the use of renewable energy, improve the living environment of human beings and improve the quality of life. When the hydrogen system is built and improved, our power grid will be smarter, more efficient, more reasonable, and more energy-efficient. At present, we should promote the era of hydrogen energy heavy trucks, and develop our hydrogen energy and hydrogen fuel cell business industry forward to support our construction of a manufacturing power.
Author: Gan Yong.
*: Study Times (article published in Study Times on December 13, 2023, page 6); *Come from.
Editor: Chen Meishan.
Disclaimer:
This platform only collects and shares content, and the copyright of the report belongs to the original author and publisher, which is obtained by the China Carbon Research Institute through open and legal channels, if it involves infringement, please contact us to delete.
The platform remains neutral on the content, statements, and opinions of the content shared, and does not provide any express or implied guarantee for the accuracy, reliability or completeness of the content contained in it, which is for readers' reference only, and the public platform will not assume any responsibility.
Company Profile
Zhonghe Carbon (Beijing)** gathers professional resources from all walks of life to conduct in-depth research on the deployment of "carbon peak and carbon neutrality", and actively serves and supports major national strategies. Through field visits, special training, summit forums, exhibitions, industrial consultations and other forms, we will explore the development direction of new energy, the construction of industrial parks, the construction of carbon trading market system, major scientific and technological breakthroughs, green finance, green agriculture and other issues under the background of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, and provide services and intellectual support for the development of local enterprises and institutions.