China's hydrogen energy industry moves from pilot projects to commercial scale: 2030 targets — 100,000 fuel cell vehicles and hydrogen below 25 yuan per kg
Currently, hydrogen costs end users over 35 yuan (about $5.2) per kg. Surplus renewable electricity can produce hydrogen for less than 10 yuan ($1.5) per kg. New carbon‑fiber composite materials increase hydrogen storage density by 1.5 times. Over a decade, hydrogen vehicles grew from 29 to 39,000, and refueling stations from 5 to 590.
As reported by CCTV+, China's hydrogen energy industry is stepping up efforts to reduce production and storage costs. New technologies unveiled at a major industry conference — the 10th International Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Vehicle Congress — highlight the sector's transition from pilot projects to large‑scale commercial application.
In China's 15th Five‑Year Plan (2026–2030), hydrogen energy is designated as a future industry and a new engine of economic growth. In March, three government departments jointly issued a notice setting sector targets for 2030, including a national fleet of 100,000 fuel cell vehicles and reducing end‑user hydrogen prices to below 25 yuan (about $3.7) per kilogram.
Current end‑user hydrogen costs exceed 35 yuan (about $5.2) per kg. High hydrogen costs remain a major challenge, and production costs are largely determined by electricity prices. The key solution is more efficient use of abundant renewable energy. Ouyang Ruixiang, an exhibitor, explained: "China currently has a large amount of renewable electricity that cannot be fully utilized. The question is how to turn it into a resource for hydrogen production. Since the cost of surplus electricity can be considered negligible, hydrogen can be produced at very low cost — potentially less than 10 yuan (about $1.5) per kilogram."
Reducing production costs is only part of the solution. Increasing hydrogen storage capacity is also critical. At the exhibition, companies demonstrated high‑pressure hydrogen storage and transport equipment developed using advanced manufacturing technologies such as carbon‑fiber composites, which increase hydrogen storage density by 1.5 times.
Over the past decade, China's hydrogen sector has developed rapidly. In 2016, the country had just 29 hydrogen‑powered vehicles and five hydrogen refueling stations. By the end of 2025, cumulative sales of hydrogen‑powered vehicles reached 39,000 units, and the number of refueling stations grew to 590. Applications of hydrogen have also expanded beyond demonstration projects to ports, industrial parks, urban passenger transport and logistics services — marking an important turning point toward commercial and large‑scale deployment.
Zhao Lijin, Deputy Secretary General of the China Society of Automotive Engineers, said: "In recent years, more than 30 Chinese provinces and cities have published special development plans for hydrogen energy. Achieving the goal of reducing hydrogen prices to below 25 yuan per kilogram by 2030 will require further technological breakthroughs."
Hydrogen is not just a fuel of the future — it is an attempt to solve the main paradox of green energy: wind and sun provide power, but not always when it is needed. By turning surplus electricity into hydrogen, China is learning to store renewable megawatts. And when the price of hydrogen falls below 25 yuan and refueling stations multiply a hundredfold, trucks and buses will drive without emissions. The road to that goal goes through carbon fiber, electrolyzers and the perseverance of engineers. But most importantly, the direction is right: from pilot to millions.
