Shell has begun production of green hydrogen in China with the startup of its 20-MW hydrogen electrolyzer in Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province. The electrolyzer will provide about half of the total green hydrogen supply for fuel cell vehicles at the Zhangjiakou competition zone during the 2022 Winter Olympic Games.
“The electrolyzer is the largest in our portfolio to date and is in line with Shell’s Powering Progress strategy, which includes plans to build on our position in hydrogen,” said Wael Sawan, Shell’s Integrated Gas, Renewable, and Energy Solutions Director. “We see opportunities across the hydrogen supply chain in China, including its production, storage, and shipping. We want to be the trusted partner for our customers from different sectors as we help them decarbonize in China.”
The project is part of a joint venture between Shell China and Zhangjiakou City Transport Construction Investment Holding Group Co. Ltd, formed in November 2020. The 20-MW, power-to-hydrogen electrolyzer and hydrogen refueling stations in Zhangjiakou are Phase 1 of the joint venture. The companies have plans to scale up to 60 MW in the next two years in Phase 2.
This is Shell’s first commercial hydrogen development project in China. Utilizing onshore wind power, the project will initially supply green hydrogen to fuel a fleet of more than 600 fuel cell vehicles at the Zhangjiakou competition zone during the Winter Olympic Games. After that, the hydrogen will be used for public and commercial transport in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, helping to decarbonize its mobility sector.
“The hydrogen industry is critical for Zhangjiakou’s transition to low-carbon energy and to achieve the city’s carbon peak and carbon neutrality targets. The recent approval of the Hebei Fuel Cell Vehicle Demonstration City Cluster, which is led by our city, will also accelerate the development of the hydrogen industry in our city,” said Bai Jing, Director, Zhangjiakou Municipal Development and Reform Commission. “This project will help secure hydrogen supply for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and make it a green one while contributing to the development of hydrogen industry in the city and the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.”
Zhangjiakou City is 111 miles (180 km) from Beijing and is strategically located at the junction of Beijing, Hebei, Shanxi, and Inner Mongolia. The electrolyzer is located at the Zhangjiakou Integrated Green Hydrogen Hub project and was built by the joint venture Zhangjiakou City Transport and Shell New Energy Co. Ltd. The three shareholders of the joint venture are Zhangjiakou City Transport Construction Investment Holding Group Co. Ltd. (48.5% share), Shell (China) Limited (47.5% share), and Zhangjiakou Zhiqing Technology Partnership (4% share).
