Hydrogen is a secondary energy source that is abundant, green, low-carbon, and widely applicable, and is gradually emerging as a key driver of the global energy transition. To seize opportunities in the hydrogen energy industry, foster new drivers of economic growth, build a clean, low-carbon, safe, and efficient energy system, support carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, and facilitate the transformation of the “Central Plains Oil City” into the “Central Plains Hydrogen City.”This plan is formulated in accordance with the "Henan Province Medium- and Long-Term Plan for Hydrogen Energy Industry Development (2022–2035)" and the "Work Plan for the Planning and Construction of the Zhengzhou-Kaifeng-Luoyang-Puyang Hydrogen Corridor," among other documents. The planning period covers 2022–2025, with a long-term outlook extending to 2035.

I. Development Context

(1) Current Situation

The world today is undergoing a once-in-a-century transformation, with a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation reshaping the global innovation landscape and restructuring the global economy.Developed nations such as the United States, Japan, the European Union, and South Korea have successively introduced hydrogen energy plans and industrial policies to secure a leading position in the hydrogen energy industry. Key core technologies across the global hydrogen energy value chain are maturing; fuel cell shipments are growing rapidly while costs continue to decline; hydrogen infrastructure construction is accelerating significantly; and regional hydrogen supply networks are taking shape.

China attaches great importance to the development of the hydrogen energy industry, having incorporated hydrogen energy as a key component of its national energy development strategy. The country is conducting demonstration and promotion of fuel cell vehicles on a metropolitan area basis and has issued the "Medium- and Long-Term Plan for the Development of the Hydrogen Energy Industry (2021–2035)" to encourage hydrogen energy technology R&D and product applications. China has already gained a preliminary grasp of major technologies and production processes in hydrogen production, storage, transportation, refueling, fuel cells, and system integration, and a number of innovative, high-quality enterprises in the hydrogen energy industry chain have emerged.and has begun to form hydrogen energy industrial clusters in regions such as the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Yangtze River Delta, and Pearl River Delta. The domestic hydrogen energy industry is currently at a critical juncture marked by technological breakthroughs across the industrial chain and the transition from the R&D phase to industrial-scale demonstration and application.

Henan Province is accelerating the implementation of its “Changing Lanes to Take the Lead” strategy, positioning hydrogen energy as a key development direction for strategic emerging industries and future industries. The province has successively introduced a series of policy measures to support the development of the hydrogen energy and hydrogen fuel cell vehicle industries. It has proposed the construction of the “Zhengzhou-Kaifeng-Luoyang-Puyang Hydrogen Corridor” and the establishment of a spatial layout featuring “one axis, five nodes, and three bases.” The goal is to build a world-class fuel cell vehicle industrial base and a domestically leading hydrogen energy industrial cluster, providing significant opportunities for the development of Puyang’s hydrogen energy industry.

(2) Development Foundation

In recent years, Puyang City has adhered to forward-looking planning and high-level promotion, positioning hydrogen energy as the primary focus for developing future industries. Building on the breakthrough from “0” to “1,” the city is now accelerating its transition toward large-scale and cluster-based development.

1. Outstanding and Superior Foundational Conditions. Puyang was founded and has prospered due to oil; it is a major new chemical industry base in the province. The annual hydrogen production capacity in industries such as synthetic ammonia and propane dehydrogenation reaches 236,000 tons, accounting for approximately 40% of the province’s total, providing excellent foundational conditions for hydrogen production and utilization.The city is rich in wind and solar resources and has essentially established itself as a green energy base in the Yellow River basin. With a new energy installed capacity of 2.107 million kilowatts, it holds significant potential for the supply of clean, low-carbon hydrogen.The storage capacity of the Central Plains gas storage facility cluster has reached 10.6 billion cubic meters and is projected to exceed 15 billion cubic meters by the end of the 14th Five-Year Plan period. Multiple national and provincial natural gas trunk pipelines interconnect in Puyang, reaching over 50 cities and prefectures across seven provinces in North China and the central-eastern regions. The city’s urban and rural gas coverage rates and industrial gas consumption rank among the highest in the province, providing a solid infrastructure foundation for the development of hydrogen-blended natural gas transmission.

2. Continuous Enhancement of Innovation Capabilities. Leveraging the technological and talent resources of the Zhongyuan Oilfield, the Puyang Zhongyuan Oilfield Hydrogen Energy Industry Research Institute was established to drive scientific and technological breakthroughs in key industrial chain technologies, including hydrogen production route optimization, efficient and safe hydrogen storage and transportation, hydrogen purification, and hydrogen safety control.The Henan Branch of the PGO Hydrogen Energy and Fuel Cell Industry Research Institute was inaugurated in Puyang, while the construction of innovation platforms such as the Henan Longzihu New Energy Laboratory and the Puyang Hydrogen Energy Research Institute is accelerating. Eight renowned academicians and experts from home and abroad have been appointed as advisors for Puyang’s hydrogen energy industry development, and an innovation ecosystem for the hydrogen energy industry—deeply integrating industry, academia, research, application, and finance—is rapidly taking shape.

3. Rapid Expansion of Industrial Scale. The hydrogen energy industrial park has taken shape; Zhongqin Taikang’s hydrogen fuel cell systems have entered mass production; multiple models of hydrogen fuel cell specialty vehicles from Zhongyuan General Machinery have been included in the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology’s automotive product catalog; and 30 hydrogen fuel cell commercial vehicles have been put into service.Projects such as Henan Zonghui Hydrogen’s high-purity hydrogen, Guohong Hydrogen Energy’s high-power fuel cell powertrain systems, and Sinopec’s megawatt-scale proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolysis demonstration project have been completed and put into operation. The successful hosting of the “2022 China Hydrogen Energy Industry Development (Puyang) Summit” has attracted upstream and downstream enterprises in the industrial chain, including Shanghai Shanyao, Shanghai Hydrogen Tong, and Feng Hydrogen Yang Hydrogen Energy Technology, propelling the hydrogen energy industry into a new phase of rapid development.

4. Strong Policy and Institutional Support. A Puyang Hydrogen Energy Industry Development Leading Group, headed by the Party Secretary and Mayor, was established. A dedicated task force was formed, and a hydrogen energy industry alliance was launched to promptly coordinate and resolve prominent issues in project construction and industrial development, thereby continuously fostering a first-class business environment.The "Puyang City Three-Year Action Plan for Hydrogen Energy Industry Development (2022–2024)" was issued, clarifying development goals, key tasks, and priority projects to guide the rapid expansion of the hydrogen energy industry. The "Puyang City Measures for Promoting Hydrogen Energy Industry Development" was introduced, outlining a comprehensive package of support policies in areas such as cultivating industrial cluster bases, attracting high-quality enterprises to strengthen the industrial chain, and expanding pilot demonstration applications, thereby facilitating the clustered development of the hydrogen energy industry.

Overall, while our city’s hydrogen energy industry has developed relatively rapidly, it remains in its early stages and faces several bottlenecks. First, industrial innovation capacity is weak, with a certain degree of “core technology hollowing out” in key areas such as high-efficiency hydrogen production from renewable energy, hydrogen storage, transportation, and refueling, as well as fuel cells. Second, the level of technical equipment is low, with core components and key materials still primarily reliant on imports.Third, the level of green and low-carbon development needs to be improved; hydrogen production from coal and natural gas accounts for a significant proportion, while hydrogen derived from industrial by-products and renewable energy sources accounts for a relatively low proportion. Fourth, the expansion of application scenarios is insufficient; applications are primarily concentrated in the transportation sector, and there is still room for development in areas such as emergency power supplies and distributed energy.

II. General Requirements

(I) Guiding Principles

Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, we will thoroughly implement the new energy security strategy of “Four Revolutions and One Cooperation,” fulfill the requirements of the “carbon peak by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060” goals, seize the opportunity presented by the construction of the “Zhengzhou-Kaifeng-Luoyang-Puyang Hydrogen Corridor,” and adhere to the path of “innovation-led, industrial upgrading, safety first, and demonstration-driven.”intensify scientific and technological research on core technologies and equipment; enhance industrial competitiveness through a combination of attracting and cultivating talent; gradually establish a supply security system primarily based on industrial by-product hydrogen and “green hydrogen”; create specialized and diversified demonstration application bases for hydrogen energy; build a full-industry-chain ecosystem encompassing “production, storage, transportation, utilization, and research”; promote the large-scale, cluster-based, and high-end development of the hydrogen energy industry; and achieve the transformation from the “Central Plains Oil City” to the “Central Plains Hydrogen City.”

(2) Basic Principles

Innovation-led, open cooperation. We will coordinate the introduction and absorption of advanced technologies with independent R&D, promote joint efforts between leading enterprises and research institutions, and strive to achieve breakthroughs in key hydrogen energy technologies, materials, and equipment.Deepen cooperation with advanced hydrogen energy regions such as Shanghai and Foshan, fully leverage “offshore” innovation resources, participate in the formulation of a series of technical and product standards for hydrogen energy equipment, establish provincial-level or higher quality testing centers, and foster a comprehensive hydrogen energy industry ecosystem; actively attract “leading enterprises” to drive breakthrough development in Puyang’s hydrogen energy sector.

Diverse Applications and Demonstration-Driven Development. By leveraging the industry’s foundation and the characteristics of its technologies and products, we will explore application potential, expand application fields, and cultivate application markets. We will create several typical application scenarios in transportation, energy storage, and industry, and establish a demonstration base integrating “large-scale renewable hydrogen production + hydrogen energy storage power stations + fuel cell combined heat and power generation + green hydrogen-based chemical industry.” Through pilot demonstrations, we will accelerate the industrialization, scaling, and commercialization of the hydrogen energy sector.

Safety First, Collaborative Advancement. Treat safety as an intrinsic requirement for the development of the hydrogen energy industry. Establish and improve hydrogen safety supervision systems, standards, and regulations, and strengthen safety risk prevention and control across the entire industrial chain. Enhance interdepartmental coordination to gradually establish an industrial ecosystem—including scientific research, promotion and application, construction, and operation—as well as standards and regulations that align with the current stage of hydrogen energy development.

Market-led, government-guided. We will leverage the decisive role of the market in resource allocation, emphasize the leading role of enterprises, explore commercial pathways for hydrogen utilization, and focus on improving the technical and economic viability of hydrogen energy. We will better leverage the role of the government by strengthening infrastructure construction, improving policy and institutional safeguards, optimizing industrial spatial layout, and guiding standardized and orderly development.

(3) Development Goals

By 2025, the construction of Puyang’s hydrogen energy industrial synergy ecosystem will have achieved significant results. Breakthroughs will be made in key technologies along the industrial chain, and the demonstration and application of hydrogen energy in sectors such as transportation and environmental sanitation will be widespread and mature. A full industrial chain encompassing hydrogen production, equipment manufacturing, storage and transmission, technology R&D, and demonstration applications will be preliminarily established, with the industry scale exceeding 20 billion yuan.In terms of infrastructure support: A hydrogen supply system primarily based on industrial by-product hydrogen and “green hydrogen” will be preliminarily established, with a production capacity of 50,000 tons per year (excluding hydrogen produced from fossil fuels). Fifteen hydrogen refueling stations will be constructed, and the retail price of hydrogen will be reduced to below 30 yuan per kilogram. Puyang’s hydrogen energy market share in the “Zhengzhou-Kaifeng-Luoyang-Puyang Hydrogen Corridor” and surrounding cities will reach over 50%.In terms of scientific and technological innovation: Public service platforms for hydrogen energy standards research, testing, and safe operations will be established, and at least four national and provincial-level innovation platforms will be created. In terms of the industrial ecosystem:The Henan (Puyang) Hydrogen Energy Equipment Industrial Park will demonstrate significant achievements, attracting more than 15 enterprises related to the hydrogen energy industry chain, with an annual production capacity of over 20,000 hydrogen fuel cell engines and 3,000 hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. In terms of demonstration and application, more than 1,000 hydrogen fuel cell cars and 2,000 two-wheeled vehicles will be promoted and demonstrated, and more than 100 application demonstration scenarios will be established.

Looking ahead to 2035, Puyang’s hydrogen energy industry synergy ecosystem will demonstrate significant advantages. The industry’s scale, quality, and efficiency will be comprehensively enhanced, and innovation capabilities will be substantially strengthened. The city will foster multiple well-known domestic and international enterprises and brands, and build a diversified application ecosystem covering transportation, energy storage, industry, and other sectors. The share of hydrogen in final energy consumption will increase significantly, and the industry’s scale will reach approximately 100 billion yuan.

III. Planning and Layout

Fully leveraging Puyang’s geographical advantages—bordering Shandong’s “Lu Hydrogen Economic Belt” to the east, adjacent to Hebei’s “Coastal Hydrogen Energy Application Demonstration Belt” to the north, and connected to the Zhengzhou fuel cell vehicle application demonstration city cluster to the south—and relying on its own resource and industrial foundations,align with national, provincial, and neighboring cities’ hydrogen energy development plans, conduct top-level design and systematic planning, further clarify key development directions, optimize industrial layout, and chart practical development paths. The focus will be on building a “One Center, Four Bases, Multiple Scenarios” hydrogen energy industrial development framework to establish a domestically leading hydrogen energy equipment industrial cluster.

Hydrogen Energy Industry Innovation and Development Center. Relying on Hualong District, the Industrial Park, and the Puyang County Advanced Manufacturing Development Zone, we will promote the dual-track development of industrial growth and scientific research. We will construct the Henan (Puyang) Hydrogen Energy Equipment Industrial Park to high standards, forming the core pillar of Puyang’s hydrogen energy industry. We will intensify efforts to attract major and high-quality enterprises, and deploy key projects along the industrial chain, including hydrogen cylinders and compressors, hydrogen refueling equipment, fuel cells and key components, and specialized vehicle manufacturing;Leveraging R&D platforms such as the Henan Longzihu New Energy Laboratory and the Zhongyuan Oilfield Hydrogen Energy Industry Research Institute, we will focus on key technological research including low-carbon and efficient hydrogen production, hydrogen storage and transportation, key materials and core components for hydrogen fuel cells, hydrogen embrittlement safety control, and CCUS. We will improve industrial standards and testing systems to drive the research, development, commercialization, and industrial incubation of hydrogen energy technologies.

Four Major Hydrogen Supply Security Bases. Relying on Puyang County, Fan County, the Economic Development Zone, and the Industrial Park, we will expand the production capacity of industrial by-product hydrogen,deploy and construct "green hydrogen" and high-purity hydrogen production projects, promote the organic integration of fossil fuel-based hydrogen production with carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCUS) technologies, explore the blending of hydrogen into natural gas transmission pipelines and the construction and operation of regional hydrogen transmission networks, continuously reduce hydrogen supply costs, and establish a relatively comprehensive hydrogen supply security system covering production, purification, storage, and transportation. Additionally, plans are underway to build a hydrogen energy trading center to provide resource support for the development of the regional hydrogen energy industry.

Multi-scenario Demonstration and Application Zone. In each county (district), we will plan and deploy infrastructure such as hydrogen refueling stations and public utility corridors in a manner tailored to local conditions and with a forward-looking approach. We will vigorously promote the demonstration and application of hydrogen fuel cells in heavy-duty trucks, buses, and municipal vehicles. We will actively develop application scenarios for distributed hydrogen energy, hydrogen energy storage, emergency power supplies, and two-wheeled vehicles, exploring a set of successful, replicable, and scalable practices to create a demonstration and leadership effect.

IV. Key Tasks

(I) Establish a Hydrogen Production, Storage, Transportation, and Refueling Support System

1. Enhance hydrogen supply security. Select diversified hydrogen production technology routes based on local resource endowments to build a clean, low-carbon, and low-cost diversified hydrogen production system.Fully utilize industrial by-product hydrogen resources from the Puyang New Chemical Industry Base and actively expand production capacity for industrial by-product hydrogen, such as propane dehydrogenation and refinery dry gas hydrogen production. Adopt purification technologies such as Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) to systematically develop high-purity hydrogen (99.999%) projects. Promote the organic integration of fossil fuel-based hydrogen production with Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) technology to increase “blue hydrogen” production capacity.We will continue to expand the scale of “green hydrogen” supply, effectively integrate surplus renewable electricity from wind and solar power, and prioritize the use of curtailed wind and solar power, as well as “source-grid-load-storage integration” projects, to build “green hydrogen” production demonstration projects; we will pilot biomass-based hydrogen production to expand “green hydrogen” supply channels.Explore the development of off-peak electricity-based hydrogen production and water electrolysis. By 2025, annual hydrogen production capacity will exceed 350,000 tons, including 40,000 tons per year of industrial by-product hydrogen and 10,000 tons per year of “green hydrogen”; cultivate a large-scale gas company integrating hydrogen production, purification, and transportation. Plan to establish a hydrogen energy trading center.

2. Establish a hydrogen storage and transportation network. Scientifically plan hydrogen transportation routes, with a focus on developing high-pressure gaseous hydrogen storage and hydrogen transport via long-tube trailers. Actively develop diversified hydrogen transportation methods such as liquid hydrogen tankers, hydrogen pipelines, and ammonia-hydrogen conversion. Accelerate the improvement of the comprehensive hydrogen transportation network to enhance hydrogen transportation capacity and reduce transportation costs.Leverage the advantages of high-pressure hydrogen tube bundles—namely their short-distance and low-cost characteristics—to supply hydrogen primarily via high-pressure gaseous storage and long-tube trailer transport within the city and between adjacent neighboring cities. Explore the development of long-distance hydrogen-ammonia and liquid hydrogen transportation. Support the construction of direct-supply hydrogen pipelines to complement hydrogen refueling stations in chemical industrial parks and hydrogen source areas;Fully leverage the extensive coverage of Puyang’s long-distance natural gas pipelines to establish pilot projects for hydrogen-blended natural gas transmission. By 2025, complete the construction of two direct-supply hydrogen pipelines serving refueling stations and two demonstration projects for hydrogen-blended natural gas transmission. Plan and build a hydrogen transportation dispatch platform to achieve automated data collection throughout the entire hydrogen transportation process, thereby establishing a safe, efficient, and low-cost hydrogen transportation and distribution system.

3. Accelerate the construction of hydrogen refueling station infrastructure. Adopt a demand-driven approach and plan hydrogen refueling station construction with moderate foresight. Prioritize the construction of hydrogen refueling stations in logistics parks, public transportation terminals, highway service areas, and along national highways. Encourage the addition of hydrogen refueling capabilities to existing gasoline (gas, electric) stations to create “oil-gas-hydrogen-electricity” integrated energy stations; encourage the reservation of space for hydrogen refueling facilities in newly constructed gasoline, natural gas, and electric vehicle charging stations.Explore the construction of integrated hydrogen stations that combine the production, storage, transportation, purification, and refueling of hydrogen using methanol, natural gas, and ammonia as hydrogen carriers. Plan and construct hydrogen mother stations in areas with abundant hydrogen sources and convenient transportation to improve hydrogen storage and transportation efficiency.Issue the "Interim Measures for the Approval and Management of Automotive Hydrogen Refueling Station Construction in Puyang City" to clarify the management mechanisms for the construction and operation of hydrogen refueling stations. By 2025, 15 hydrogen refueling stations will be completed, forming an efficient and convenient network covering major logistics parks and transportation hubs across the city.

4. Establish a competitive hydrogen pricing system. Actively promote technological progress, the application of new technologies and products, and innovations in production and business models to continuously reduce costs across hydrogen production, storage, transportation, purification, and refueling. Accelerate the formation of a competitive hydrogen pricing mechanism to build a hydrogen supply system characterized by diversified supply, efficient storage and transportation, standardized operations, and robust competition.By 2025, the ex-factory price of high-purity hydrogen will be controlled at around 18 yuan per kilogram, the ex-factory price of “green hydrogen” at around 25 yuan per kilogram, and the average hydrogen supply price at refueling stations below 30 yuan per kilogram. Puyang Hydrogen’s market share in the “Zhengzhou-Kaifeng-Luoyang-Puyang Hydrogen Corridor” and surrounding cities will reach over 50%.

(2) Promoting Innovative Development of the Hydrogen Energy Industry

1. Establish high-level innovation platforms. Actively align with national and provincial strategic scientific and technological resources, strengthen cooperation with universities and research institutions such as Henan University, and jointly build the Henan Longzihu New Energy Laboratory. Focus on scientific research, pilot testing, and technology commercialization in the fields of hydrogen production, energy storage, and hydrogen fuel cells.Promote the innovative development of the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) Zhongyuan Oilfield Hydrogen Energy Industry Research Institute, intensify efforts to tackle and develop key technologies along the industrial chain, and establish high-level hydrogen energy R&D institutions. Strengthen cooperation with the Sinopec Dalian Petrochemical Research Institute, the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and China University of Petroleum (Beijing), among others, to create joint technology R&D platforms and conduct basic and cutting-edge research on hydrogen energy applications.Accelerate the establishment of new R&D institutions such as the Puyang Hydrogen Energy Research Institute and the Henan Branch of the PGO Hydrogen Energy and Fuel Cell Industry Research Institute. Relying on leading enterprises, establish innovation platforms such as technology innovation centers, engineering (technology) research centers, and pilot production bases to develop key industry technologies and facilitate their engineering applications. By 2025, establish at least four national-level and provincial-level innovation platforms.

2. Accelerate the development of key core technologies. Relying on leading enterprises and research institutions, and fully utilizing offshore innovation resources, we will combine independent innovation with the introduction, digestion, and absorption of foreign technologies. We will focus on areas such as clean and low-carbon hydrogen production and deep hydrogen purification, dense hydrogen storage and transportation, key materials for fuel cells, and key technologies for fuel cell vehicles. By achieving breakthroughs in a number of key core technologies and forging flagship products, we will provide a solid foundation for the development of the hydrogen energy industry.

3. Strengthen Talent and Think Tank Development. Guided by hydrogen energy technology innovation, strengthen the recruitment, cultivation, utilization, and retention of talent required for the hydrogen energy industry. Implement the “1+14” comprehensive talent policy package, improve the “full-time + flexible” talent recruitment mechanism, allocate special funds for talent recruitment within the hydrogen energy industry development fund, and actively attract high-level innovative teams in the hydrogen energy sector.Strengthen cooperation with renowned universities and research institutes to jointly advance the R&D of key hydrogen energy technologies, thereby providing intellectual support for the industry’s development. Enhance the cultivation of local technical talent by leveraging major industrial support projects to foster a cohort of leading experts and technical backbone personnel in the hydrogen energy sector. Support institutions such as the Puyang Institute of Technology at Henan University in establishing hydrogen energy-related disciplines and majors, strengthen university-enterprise collaboration, jointly build talent training bases, and cultivate high-quality technical and skilled personnel.

(3) Enhancing the Comprehensive Competitiveness of the Industrial Chain

1. Establish a hydrogen energy equipment manufacturing industrial park. Leveraging equipment manufacturing zones such as the Puyang High-Tech Industrial Development Zone and industrial parks, we will guide the aggregation of high-end hydrogen energy resources. Key projects include the Guohong Hydrogen Energy Technology Industrial Park,the Shanyao Dongfang (Puyang) Hydrogen Energy Incubation Park, the Zhongqin Taikang Hydrogen Fuel Cell Stack and Core Components Project, and the Hydrogen-Powered Vehicle Manufacturing Base. This will create the Henan (Puyang) Hydrogen Energy Equipment Manufacturing Industrial Park—a facility with comprehensive supporting infrastructure, a complete industrial chain, and distinctive features—to serve as the core pillar of Puyang’s hydrogen energy industry development.Implement policy measures such as the "Puyang City Measures for Promoting the Development of the Hydrogen Energy Industry," establish platforms for industrial joint ventures and cooperation, and, through strategic partnerships, technology introduction, and mergers and acquisitions, prioritize the attraction of renowned domestic and international enterprises in the hydrogen energy sector. Encourage these enterprises to establish equipment manufacturing, product R&D, and design operations in Puyang to create a competitive advantage through industrial clustering.

2. Enhance equipment manufacturing capabilities across the entire hydrogen production, storage, transportation, and refueling chain. Intensify investment promotion efforts to actively attract equipment manufacturing enterprises specializing in high-power alkaline water electrolysis systems, proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolysis systems, hydrogen purification equipment, and high-efficiency catalytic hydrogen production equipment for distributed natural gas, ammonia, and methanol;Improve the supporting industrial ecosystem for CNC machine tools, mechanical manufacturing, and mold production; actively develop integrated water electrolysis, storage, and refueling equipment, skid-mounted hydrogen refueling stations, mobile high-pressure hydrogen refueling systems, hydrogen compressors, gas cylinders, refueling dispensers, high-pressure smart valves, and hydrogen refueling station control integration systems;Advance the construction of projects such as the Shanghai Hengtong Hydrogen Energy Technology Industrial Base, the Fenghuoyang Hydrogen Energy Technology Hydrogen Fuel Cell Power System R&D and Production Base, and the Zhengxing Group Hydrogen Energy Equipment Manufacturing Base to establish a hydrogen energy equipment manufacturing industrial base.

3. Develop the core industries of hydrogen fuel cells and fuel cell vehicles. Vigorously promote the industrialization of core fuel cell materials, key components, and powertrain systems. Focus on the industrial chains of the eight core components for fuel cell vehicles—including stacks, membrane electrodes, bipolar plates, proton exchange membranes, catalysts, carbon paper, air compressors, and hydrogen recirculation systems—to accelerate the introduction of leading domestic and international enterprises. Strengthen the industrial chain by building, extending, supplementing, and enhancing it to form a complete fuel cell industry chain.We will expand and strengthen key enterprises such as Zhongyuan General Machinery, Zhongyuan Special Vehicles, and Hailin Special Equipment, actively engage in strategic cooperation with leading enterprises like Yutong, vigorously develop the fuel cell specialty vehicle manufacturing industry, and improve critical links in the industrial chain—including modular high-performance vehicle platforms, integrated design of fuel cell engines and chassis, highly integrated electric drive systems, and lightweight vehicle bodies—to build Henan Province’s major hydrogen fuel cell vehicle manufacturing base.By 2025, the production capacity for hydrogen fuel cell powertrains will reach 20,000 units per year or more, and the production capacity for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles will reach 3,000 units per year.

4. Foster and expand leading enterprises. Guide enterprises such as Zhongyuan Oilfield and Tianneng Group, as well as those in oil and gas equipment manufacturing and special equipment manufacturing, to transition toward hydrogen energy.Encourage hydrogen fuel cell powertrain manufacturers such as Guohong Hydrogen Energy to strengthen cooperation with vehicle manufacturers like Yutong Bus and FAW Jiefang, accelerate the province-wide promotion and application of hydrogen fuel cell stacks and powertrains, and form strategic alliances to jointly develop the market, achieving local production for local consumption. Support small and medium-sized innovative enterprises in fully leveraging their strengths, strengthening cooperation with leading enterprises in the hydrogen energy industry chain, and intensifying innovation efforts in complete vehicles, key materials, and core components to cultivate a group of high-tech enterprises and “specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative” enterprises.

5. Improve industrial standards and testing systems. Support leading enterprises, universities, and research institutes in actively participating in the research and formulation of various hydrogen energy standards. Promote the conversion of advanced technologies—such as those related to key materials and core components—into national and industry standards to enhance the industry’s influence and voice.Strictly enforce mandatory standards and actively adopt recommended standards and relevant national specifications in policy-making, government procurement, and bidding activities. Focusing on key segments of the industrial chain—such as hydrogen production, fuel cell stacks, powertrain systems, and vehicle manufacturing—establish product testing and certification platforms as well as metrology and testing centers to provide specialized services to hydrogen energy enterprises and strengthen product quality assurance capabilities. By 2025, establish at least five such testing and certification platforms and metrology and testing centers.

(IV) Expand Demonstration and Application Scenarios

1. Conduct application demonstrations in the transportation sector. Seize opportunities presented by the “Zhengzhou-Kaifeng-Puyang” land-port intermodal logistics hub hydrogen energy demonstration and the “Zhengzhou-Kaifeng-Luoyang-Puyang” green and low-carbon municipal transportation hydrogen energy demonstration projects. Comprehensively promote the application of hydrogen fuel cells in heavy-duty vehicles, with a focus on logistics vehicles, forklifts, and heavy-duty tractors. Leveraging the five major logistics hubs of “Pudong, Qingfeng,Puxi, Puyang County, and Taiqian County,” and carry out demonstration applications in logistics parks, key industrial parks, and key enterprise campuses; with a focus on sanitation vehicles, buses, and special-purpose vehicles, conduct demonstration applications in public sectors such as waste transfer and municipal services. Newly added and replaced buses and sanitation vehicles shall prioritize the adoption of fuel cell vehicles. Focusing primarily on municipal and county urban areas, actively promote hydrogen-powered two-wheeled vehicles to foster green living scenarios.Promote the “Hydrogen + Smart” fuel cell vehicle telematics system for operational monitoring, scheduling, and data aggregation of fuel cell vehicles, supporting the digital and intelligent development of application scenarios.Strengthen the promotion and application of hydrogen-powered medical vehicles and promote the integrated development of the artificial intelligence medical device industry and the hydrogen energy industry. By 2025, 1,000 hydrogen fuel cell vehicles will be in operation, including 500 logistics vehicles, 100 sanitation vehicles, 100 buses, and 300 other vehicles; 2,000 hydrogen-powered two-wheeled vehicles will be in operation.

2. Conduct application demonstrations in the distributed energy sector. Deploy fuel cell combined heat and power (CHP) systems based on local conditions. In areas not covered by centralized heating networks or where heat and power demand is relatively stable—such as advanced manufacturing development zones, residential communities, public buildings, commercial buildings, schools, and hospitals—carry out demonstration projects for comprehensive energy utilization centered on hydrogen, providing users with electricity and high-quality heating (and cooling) sources.Leveraging communication base stations, data centers, and railway communication sites, accelerate the application of hydrogen in emergency power supplies to enhance the reliability of equipment power supply. In conjunction with incremental power distribution reforms, carry out demonstration projects for hydrogen-electric integrated microgrids.

3. Conduct application demonstrations in the energy storage sector. Leverage the advantages of hydrogen energy storage—such as its long regulation cycle and large storage capacity—to gradually carry out technical demonstrations of hydrogen energy in scenarios such as renewable energy integration and grid peak shaving.Using hydrogen as a link to connect various energy forms such as wind, solar, and biomass, we will promote clean energy production and local consumption. We will explore and cultivate new integrated application models such as “wind and solar power generation + hydrogen energy storage,” accelerate the construction of projects like the Henan Guohong Shared Hydrogen Energy Storage facility, and achieve coordinated multi-energy supply and comprehensive cascaded utilization.Leverage hydrogen’s role as an energy storage medium to gradually increase its share in the energy mix. Through water electrolysis using renewable energy, achieve large-scale energy storage and peak-load regulation, thereby further enhancing renewable energy integration capacity and the overall operational efficiency of the energy system.

4. Conduct demonstration projects for green hydrogen-based chemical applications. As the economic viability of hydrogen production technologies continues to improve, expand the application of low-cost, clean energy-derived hydrogen as a high-quality raw material in industries such as chemicals. Prioritize the green transformation of industries such as synthetic ammonia and methanol to effectively reduce fossil fuel consumption in the industrial sector. Support Zhongyuan Petrochemical in leveraging its existing facilities, technologies, and talent advantages to commercialize the latest scientific and technological achievements. Implement a series of projects to extend and strengthen the industrial chain—such as the quality upgrade of PSA units and the construction of a hydrogen supply center—to develop mid-to-high-end products.

(5) Strengthen Open and Collaborative Partnerships

1. Strengthen regional hydrogen industry cooperation. Enhance industrial coordination with the “Lu Hydrogen Economic Belt” in Shandong, the “Coastal Hydrogen Application Demonstration Belt” in Hebei, and the cities along the “Zheng-Bian-Luo-Pu Hydrogen Corridor.” Engage in in-depth cooperation in areas such as technology development, commercialization of research outcomes, and product promotion to enhance the technological innovation capacity and core competitiveness of the regional hydrogen industry.Enhance communication and interaction with neighboring cities regarding the construction of hydrogen energy supporting infrastructure, the formulation of standards and specifications, and the introduction of policies and regulations. Promote the establishment of unified standards, regulations, and a comprehensive service system for the hydrogen energy industry within the region, and foster a favorable environment for regional cooperation and the promotion of hydrogen energy product applications.

2. Actively expand domestic and international cooperation and exchanges. Actively organize enterprises to participate in influential domestic and international academic conferences, expos, trade fairs, and industry forums, and invite domestic and international hydrogen energy industry associations, alliances, enterprises, and research institutes to host high-level industry exchange events in Puyang.Further deepen cooperation with institutions such as the Hydrogen Energy Branch of the China Industrial Development Promotion Association and the PGO Hydrogen Energy and Fuel Cell Industry Research Institute, and regularly organize the National Hydrogen Energy Industry Development (Puyang) Summit in Puyang. Encourage key enterprises and research institutions to join international and domestic industry organizations such as hydrogen fuel cell associations.

3. Intensify efforts to attract investment. Compile a Puyang City hydrogen energy industry chain enterprise investment promotion directory, fully leverage the role of industrial funds, focus on key enterprises and core technologies, and conduct targeted, precise, and proactive investment promotion by sector and category to attract a batch of transformative, leading, and landmark major projects. Optimize the business environment, strengthen the supply of resources and factors of production, provide comprehensive high-quality services to enterprises, and create a thriving environment for enterprise investment and business development.

V. Support Measures

(1) Improve the Coordination and Promotion Mechanism. Further refine the working mechanism of the Puyang City Hydrogen Energy Industry Development Leading Group to coordinate the resolution of major issues, improve supporting policies, and advance the construction of application demonstration projects. Each department shall be responsible for specific implementation in accordance with its duties, driving forward tasks such as policy formulation, project implementation, investment promotion, and safety supervision. Fully leverage the role of the Puyang City Hydrogen Energy Industry Alliance as a bridge and link to facilitate information exchange between the government and enterprises, thereby supporting the development of the hydrogen energy industry.

(2) Strengthen the Policy Support System. Refine policies related to hydrogen energy management, standardize construction and management procedures for the entire process of hydrogen production, storage, transportation, and refueling, and optimize approval processes for the planning and project approval of hydrogen energy projects. Implement innovative measures such as accepting applications with missing documents, advance preliminary reviews, and the notification and commitment system to accelerate project construction. Under the premise of complying with relevant standards and safety conditions, streamline preliminary procedures for hydrogen energy projects, including land use pre-approval, site selection, and social stability risk assessments.Research and explore market-based mechanisms for renewable energy-based hydrogen production, and explore the direct participation of hydrogen energy storage in electricity market transactions. Exempt heavy-duty hydrogen fuel cell trucks from the “mobile source emission reduction measures” restrictions during emergency responses to severe air pollution.

(3) Strengthen fiscal and financial support. Implement the “Puyang City Measures for Promoting the Development of the Hydrogen Energy Industry” to provide fiscal subsidies for eligible activities such as R&D of key core technologies, investment in major projects, purchase of fuel cell vehicles, and infrastructure construction and operation. Prioritize the hydrogen energy industry as a key focus for funding from sources including central budgetary investments, local government special bonds, provincial and municipal special fiscal funds, and strategic emerging industry funds, and actively seek support from various funding channels.Leverage the catalytic role of hydrogen energy industry funds. Support provincial and municipal state-owned enterprises, leading hydrogen energy companies, and others in jointly establishing hydrogen energy industry development funds. Strengthen cooperation with domestic and international angel investment funds and venture capital funds, proactively invest in and support innovative hydrogen energy enterprises, and actively promote the listing of hydrogen energy companies.Strengthen coordination between financial institutions—including banks, securities firms, and insurance companies—and enterprises. Encourage financial institutions to provide major projects and enterprises across the industrial chain with a variety of credit services, including equity investment, loans, bonds, leasing, and securities, to build a multi-tiered, comprehensive technology-finance service system that supports the development of the hydrogen energy industry.

(4) Establish a comprehensive safety mechanism. In accordance with the “Three Oversights and Three Musts” principle, implement enterprises’ primary responsibility for production safety and the regulatory responsibilities of relevant departments. Strengthen safety management across all links of the hydrogen production, storage, transportation, refueling, and utilization industrial chain to ensure the safe and controllable use of hydrogen.Promote the coordinated development of key core technologies and safety technologies in the hydrogen energy industry. Actively utilize advanced technologies such as the internet, big data, and artificial intelligence to monitor, analyze, and issue early warnings regarding risk conditions—including leaks, fatigue, and deflagration—in hydrogen production, storage, and transportation facilities, sites, and application terminals, thereby effectively enhancing accident prevention capabilities. Strengthen emergency response capacity building by researching and formulating contingency plans, technical and tactical response strategies, and operational procedures for hydrogen-related emergencies, and conducting specialized drills to respond promptly and effectively to various hydrogen safety risks.

(5) Strengthen public outreach and education on the hydrogen energy industry. Integrate the hydrogen energy industry into the public education system for ecological civilization, intensify efforts to promote hydrogen energy, and fully utilize various formats—such as online platforms, conferences, and lectures—to disseminate knowledge and technologies related to hydrogen energy. Actively address public concerns to enhance public awareness and acceptance of hydrogen energy. Establish comprehensive hydrogen energy exhibition centers featuring public education, product displays, and interactive exchanges to showcase new hydrogen energy technologies, products, and application outcomes from all angles.Timely summarize, publicize, and promote exemplary practices and successful models; establish and improve incentive mechanisms; recognize organizations and individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the development of the hydrogen energy industry; and continuously foster a favorable social atmosphere in which the entire society cares about and supports the development of the hydrogen energy industry.