In the context of global energy transition, hydrogen energy, as a clean and efficient energy carrier, is gradually becoming an important part of the future energy structure. In March 2025, Sinopec Guangzhou Petrochemical Hydrogen Fuel Cell Hydrogen Supply Center Expansion and Transformation Project was officially put into operation, which not only marked the birth of the largest hydrogen fuel cell hydrogen supply center in South China, but also an important milestone in the development of China's hydrogen energy industry.
1. Project background and history
The construction of Sinopec Guangzhou Petrochemical Hydrogen Fuel Cell Hydrogen Supply Center can be traced back to 2020. At that time, Guangzhou Petrochemical took the lead in launching the construction of the hydrogen fuel cell hydrogen supply center (phase I) project with an annual production capacity of 1,500 tons, and successfully established Sinopec's first hydrogen charging mother station put into commercial use. Today, with the completion of the expansion and transformation project, the annual production capacity of the center has increased significantly from 1,500 tons to 5,100 tons, and it can produce 15 tons of hydrogen with a purity of 99.999% per day, making it the largest hydrogen fuel cell hydrogen supply center in South China.
2. Technical highlights and innovations
The project adopts advanced production technology in technology, using the by-product hydrogen of the pyrolysis unit and styrene unit as raw material, and produces high-purity hydrogen with a purity of 99.999% through pressure swing adsorption and separation processes. This high-purity hydrogen can be directly used in fuel cells, providing a strong guarantee for the application of clean energy.
In addition, the whole project has the advantages of small footprint and low power consumption. In the production process operation, a high degree of automation has been realized, one-key control, and ready-to-use, which not only improves the production efficiency, but also enhances the safety of the production process.
3. Impact on the hydrogen energy industry in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area
The commissioning of the Guangzhou Petrochemical Hydrogen Fuel Cell Hydrogen Supply Center will greatly enhance the hydrogen energy supply capacity of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The hydrogen produced will be mainly supplied to various regions such as Guangzhou, Foshan and Hong Kong. On March 6, the high-purity hydrogen produced by the project was successfully delivered to Hong Kong's first public-facing hydrogen refueling station, Sinopec Cave Hydrogen Refueling Station, which is the first time that Sinopec fuel cell hydrogen has been officially supplied to Hong Kong, providing important support for Hong Kong's green energy transition.
Figure: Annual output of 5100 tons! The largest hydrogen fuel cell hydrogen supply center in South China was put into operation
In the transportation sector, hydrogen can replace traditional fuels to power fuel cell vehicles and promote the concept of green mobility in the Greater Bay Area. In the industrial field, hydrogen, as a chemical raw material, can not only help companies reduce emissions, but also reduce costs and increase efficiency. In particular, under the goal of carbon neutrality, the widespread application of hydrogen energy will further stimulate the economic growth of the Greater Bay Area and enhance the competitiveness of traditional industries.
4.The significance to the development of the national hydrogen energy industry
As a leading enterprise in China's energy field, Sinopec has been making continuous efforts in the field of hydrogen energy in recent years. Up to now, Sinopec has built 11 hydrogen fuel cell hydrogen supply centers, accelerating the construction of China's No. 1 hydrogen energy company. The commissioning of the Guangzhou Petrochemical Hydrogen Fuel Cell Hydrogen Supply Center not only provides strong support for the development of the hydrogen energy industry in the Greater Bay Area, but also sets a model for the high-quality development of the national hydrogen energy industry chain.
In addition, Sinopec has also vigorously promoted the R&D and application of hydrogen energy technology in the whole industry chain, built a key common technology platform, successfully put into use a megawatt-level proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolysis hydrogen production device, and took the lead in China to realize the start-up of a 100-kilowatt solid oxide (SOEC) water electrolysis hydrogen production project, breaking through the kilogram-level industrial production of fuel cell platinum-based catalysts, and building the first industrial research project of industrial seawater hydrogen production in China. These technological breakthroughs will provide strong technical support for the development of China's hydrogen energy industry.
5. Views of industry experts
For the commissioning of the hydrogen fuel cell hydrogen supply center of Guangzhou Petrochemical, industry insiders generally believe that this will greatly promote the improvement and development of the hydrogen energy industry chain in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. It is expected to attract more enterprises to invest and cooperate, form a good synergy effect, and promote the overall development of the regional economy. At the same time, this project also provides a successful case for the national development strategy in the field of hydrogen energy, and provides valuable experience for the development of hydrogen energy industry in other regions.
6. Conclusion
The commissioning of Sinopec Guangzhou Petrochemical Hydrogen Fuel Cell Hydrogen Supply Center is an important milestone in the development of the hydrogen energy industry. It not only improves the regional hydrogen energy supply capacity, promotes the energy transformation and sustainable development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, but also injects new impetus into the high-quality development of the national hydrogen energy industry chain. In the future, with the continuous progress of technology and the sustainable development of the industry, hydrogen energy is expected to be widely used in more fields, making greater contributions to China's goal of carbon peak and carbon neutrality.
