The China Hydrogen Energy Development Report (2026) (hereinafter referred to as the Report) was officially released to the public on August 11. The Report was compiled by Guoneng Hydrogen Innovation Technology (under Guohua Energy Investment, a CHN Energy subsidiary) together with relevant industry organizations and experts, under the guidance of the Department of Energy Conservation and Science and Technology Equipment of the National Energy Administration and the Department of Innovation and High-Tech Development of the National Development and Reform Commission.
China Hyrogen Energy Development Report (2026) released by the NEA
Based on hydrogen energy industry practices in China and abroad in 2025, the Report systematically reviews global developments in the sector in 2025, conducts an in-depth assessment of the current challenges facing China's hydrogen energy industry, and proposes development needs and pathways for the industry during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026–2030) — China's flagship national planning framework that sets medium- and long-term development priorities every five years. It also identifies key priorities for the current stage, with the aim of providing guidance for cultivating hydrogen energy as a new driver of economic growth and supporting the development of a new energy system.
The Report notes that the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) was a critical window for the global hydrogen energy industry to move from pilot exploration toward orderly breakthroughs. Guided by China's new energy security strategy, China's hydrogen energy production and consumption have remained among the world's largest. Renewable hydrogen production capacity accounts for more than 50% of the global total, while technological and equipment breakthroughs have been achieved across the entire hydrogen value chain covering production, storage, transportation and utilization, and the industry's operating environment has continued to improve. By the end of 2025, China's operational renewable hydrogen production capacity had exceeded 250,000 tons per year, doubling year on year. Operational green ammonia and green methanol production capacity had reached 700,000 tons and 380,000 tons per year, respectively. More than 590 hydrogen refueling stations had been built, while the number of fuel cell vehicles in operation reached approximately 32,000. The use of hydrogen continued to expand in sectors such as industrial decarbonization, trunk-line logistics, and port and shipping operations. China's technological innovation capability also grew steadily, with more than 100,000 hydrogen-related patent applications filed nationwide, ranking first globally.
Looking ahead to the 15th Five-Year Plan period, China's hydrogen energy industry will enter a new stage of transition from policy-driven development to market-driven growth. The Report identifies five key areas of focus in response to new trends, goals and demands arising from international competition and cooperation in the industry: aligning closely with the dual carbon goals(carbon peak and carbon neutrality) to support the integrated development of the new energy system; accelerating the development of future industries to create new engines of economic growth; promoting coordinated regional development and synergies between resources and application scenarios in line with local conditions; deepening innovation to build a solid foundation for domestic technological capabilities; and integrating into global energy governance to build an international cooperation network. At the same time, six key tasks should be advanced in a coordinated manner: planning guidance, infrastructure development, institutional improvement, technological breakthroughs, standards and certification, and international cooperation, thereby promoting coordinated development across the entire value chain.
As the designated builder of a national hydrogen energy industry research institute, Guohua Energy Investment (Guoneng Hydrogen Innovation Technology) has continued to strengthen the national think tank for the hydrogen energy industry. Over the past three years, it has supported the National Energy Administration in compiling the China Hydrogen Energy Development Report and led the development of a national hydrogen energy information platform. It has also supported major strategic consulting projects for several national ministries and commissions, including the National Energy Administration's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) for energy science and technological innovation. Going forward, the company will accelerate its efforts to become the a leading enterprise in the sector, strengthen its innovation service capabilities, deepen technological innovation and international cooperation, and fully support the high-quality development of CHN Energy's hydrogen energy business.
