Chen Xiaochun

654789759@qq.com

THE 2020 City Green Development Forum and the Eighth Shenzhen International Low Carbon City Forum was held in Futian District on Monday, gathering experts and scholars to discuss the significance of hydrogen energy in energy transformation, and building a safe and stable, intelligent and efficient, and clean and low-carbon innovative energy system.

The forum was hosted by Shenzhen International Low Carbon City Forum and organized by Shenzhen International Technology Promotion Center and Shenzhen Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association (SHFCA).

“‘China aims to have CO2 emissions peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060,’ President Xi Jinping made the remarks at the general debate of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly via video Sept. 22,” said Yu Jing, vice head of the Shenzhen Municipal Development and Reform Commission.

“In order to achieve this goal, China will significantly reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and increase the share of low-carbon sectors such as renewable energy in end-user consumption,” said Yu.

According to Yu, there are nearly 70 members in SHFCA, and more and more enterprises are focusing on the core technology of hydrogen energy in Shenzhen. The city is also negotiating with Russia, the U.K. and Germany on the core technology of hydrogen energy.

Xiong Huawen, director of Energy Environment Center of Energy Research Institute of the National Development and Reform Commission, delivered a video speech titled “The Strategic Orientation of Hydrogen Energy Industry in Energy Transformation and Development Prospects of the 14th Five-year Plan.”

Jin Xiaohui, chairman of Shenzhen Hynovation Technologies Co. Ltd. and president of SHFCA, said that Shenzhen enjoys three advantages in the development of hydrogen energy.

Firstly, Shenzhen has the gene of innovation which is a requirement for hydrogen energy development, Jin said. Secondly, Shenzhen has the talent and enterprises that focus on the independent research and development of hydrogen energy. Thirdly, the Shenzhen government takes the lead in innovative mechanism.

For Wang Haijiang, a professor from the Southern University of Science and Technology and an academic of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, Shenzhen enjoys a good foundation for hydrogen energy development.

“As far as I know, most materials for fuel cell production are based in Shenzhen. So it’s easier and faster for us to communicate with factories in Shenzhen to make this nonstandard equipment,” said Wang.

In addition, Wang said that fuel cell technology spans many different fields, including materials, mechanics, fluid mechanics, chemistry and electrochemistry. “In Shenzhen, we can quickly pool talent from all fields together to solve our technical problems and make technological innovation.”

According to Wang, so far, one of the development bottlenecks is that foreign companies own the core materials and technologies, which lead to the high cost of fuel cells. But in recent years, China has developed quickly and has produced some core materials independently which also results in the price drop.

“Another bottleneck is infrastructure for hydrogen production, hydrogen refueling and hydrogen transportation, which needs to be led by our government, because it’s difficult to be solved by a single company,” said Wang.