By the end of 2025, China’s annual hydrogen production capacity had surpassed 51 million tons, with an actual output exceeding 39 million tons. Notably, hydrogen produced from renewable energy sources accounts for 53% of the global total, signaling a continuous expansion of China’s hydrogen energy sector. While the capacity and output of traditional hydrogen production methods, such as coal-based hydrogen and industrial by-product hydrogen, have remained stable, renewable energy-based hydrogen production is transitioning from pilot projects to large-scale commercial deployment. Compared to the end of 2024, the installed and operational capacity for renewable hydrogen has more than doubled.

The development of diversified hydrogen energy infrastructure is also accelerating. Over 5,500 kilometers of long-distance pure hydrogen pipelines are planned, with more than 350 kilometers already constructed and operational. Additionally, over 590 hydrogen refueling stations have been established, and the number of fuel cell vehicles in operation has reached approximately 32,000.

Currently, China’s hydrogen energy industry is still in its early developmental stages and faces several challenges, including poor integration of storage, transportation, and application systems, slow growth in end-user demand, and insufficient technological innovation. The year 2026 represents a critical window for the advancement of the hydrogen energy sector. In the first half of this year, investment in hydrogen energy grew by over 160% year-on-year. Moving forward, the National Energy Administration will work collaboratively to outline development goals for the 15th Five-Year Plan period, refine policy frameworks, drive technological innovation, and promote high-quality growth in the hydrogen energy industry.