风光赋能绿氢发展 包头构建氢能“制-储-输-用”产业闭环Wind and Solar Resources Empower Green Hydrogen Development: Baotou Builds a 'Production-Storage-Transportation-Utilization' Industrial Loop for Hydrogen Energy

On October 15, the "Gathering Strength for a New Journey: Witnessing Baotou's High-Quality Development" focused interview event visited the front line of Baotou's hydrogen energy industry. The media delegation conducted on-site visits to a green hydrogen production base, long-distance pipeline projects, and a hydrogen energy equipment manufacturing workshop. Relying on the advantages of abundant wind and solar resources, a strong industrial foundation, and broad application scenarios, Baotou City in Inner Mongolia has incorporated the hydrogen energy industry into the key sectors of its modern industrial system. In December 2025, it was approved as a national pilot area for the full-chain development of hydrogen energy in the energy sector, and this year it was also approved as a national pilot for comprehensive hydrogen energy application, with multiple demonstration projects being implemented effectively.

On the hydrogen production side, the supply capacity of green hydrogen has already achieved large-scale demonstration. Huadian Hydrogen Energy's 200,000-kilowatt wind and solar hydrogen production demonstration project has been operating stably for more than two years, with renewable energy installed capacity of 1.96 million kilowatts, producing 7,800 tons of green hydrogen annually; Huadian's one-million-kilowatt wind and solar hydrogen project is accelerating construction, continuously expanding local green hydrogen production capacity.

On December 1, 2023, the company produced 99.999% high-purity hydrogen for the first time, becoming the first enterprise in Inner Mongolia's initial hydrogen production demonstration projects to produce high-purity hydrogen. On February 5, 2024, green hydrogen was loaded into Beiben heavy trucks' newly launched hydrogen-powered heavy trucks, completing the first entire 'wind, solar, hydrogen, storage, vehicle' industry chain in Baotou. In the same year, the company completed a scientific research project on blending green hydrogen with industrial natural gas at a scale of 2,000 tons per year, setting three national records for being the earliest deployment, highest blending ratio, and largest scale of green hydrogen blended with industrial natural gas, providing a practical example for carbon reduction in high-energy-consumption industries.

Storage and transportation infrastructure is rapidly taking shape, addressing the long-standing challenge of high transportation costs that has hindered the promotion of green hydrogen. By 2025, the long-distance hydrogen pipeline project from Baiyun Obo Mining Area to Baotou City was selected as one of the first pilot hydrogen energy projects in the energy sector by the National Energy Administration. This 'one main, two rings, four outlets' branch line starts from the first station in Barun Industrial Park and ends at the last station in Kundulun District, with a design pressure of 6.3 MPa, a pipe diameter of DN450, and a designed annual hydrogen transport capacity of 100,000 tons. It connects Baiyun Obo with urban hydrogen usage scenarios in the chemical, metallurgical, gas, and transportation sectors. After the project starts operation, the cost of transporting green hydrogen is expected to be reduced by 76.9%, and the capacity for continuous, stable, and large-scale supply of green hydrogen will be further enhanced.

Application scenarios are continuously being implemented, and key technological breakthroughs have been achieved in local hydrogen energy equipment manufacturing. Over 160 hydrogen-powered heavy trucks and more than 2,000 hydrogen-powered two-wheelers have already been put into operation in Baotou. Jin'gebo has completed a 20% hydrogen-mixed natural gas demonstration, with related demonstrations in chemical, hydrogen-based fuel, and hydrogen metallurgy industries progressing simultaneously.

In terms of equipment, Beiben Heavy-Duty Truck's 49-ton 300 kW hydrogen fuel traction vehicle has completed announcement release and reliability testing. This model is a core achievement of the third phase of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region's 'Challenge Prize' project. The fuel cell system has a rated efficiency of 50.08%, with a peak efficiency exceeding 65.95%, and its mass and volumetric power density rank among the industry leaders. The vehicle is equipped with a high-power electric drive assembly, matched with a CATL-customized high-rate battery. After the vehicle's lightweight modification, under the premise of unchanged compliant total weight, it can carry an additional 800 kg per trip. For the harsh cold conditions in northern regions, the vehicle has overcome extreme cold start technology at -40.2°C, and hydrogen refueling within 15 to 20 minutes can achieve a range of over 400 kilometers.

From wind power generation to green hydrogen production, from long-distance hydrogen pipeline transportation to hydrogen refueling infrastructure, and then to multi-sector end applications in transportation and industry, this complete industrial closed loop in Baotou has transformed from a demonstration concept into a real industrial landscape. The city has established a municipal-level comprehensive service and support mechanism for the hydrogen industry, issued a series of supporting policies including industrial development plans, hydrogen station management, and incentives for heavy truck promotion, and continuously holds hydrogen industry promotion meetings to gather industry resources.

Currently, Baotou has gathered more than 20 leading and mid-sized hydrogen-related enterprises, forming equipment production capacity that includes solid-state hydrogen storage materials, fuel cell stacks, and systems. Relying on innovation platforms such as academicians' workstations, the city has overcome many key technologies, including hydrogen-resistant pipeline steel and industrial co-burning of green hydrogen. The combination of multiple advantages in resources, technology, policies, and application scenarios has driven the aggregation of upstream and downstream hydrogen companies, cultivated a team of specialized technical talents in hydrogen equipment manufacturing, and also accumulated solid practical cases for the green and low-carbon transformation of old industrial bases.

[Source: CCTV.com]

[Editor: Xiao Neng]