Hydrogen an opportunity for China’s renewables hubs

Wind and solar hubs in the north of the country are planning integrated hydrogen projects amid changing demand from traditional coastal industrial customers

China’s clean energy bases in the north are starting to develop wind and solar farms with integrated hydrogen production, as they look to make use of excess renewable generation while preparing for a future where there is less demand for their green electricity output. A significant portion of China’s solar and wind capacity is sited in the deserts of Inner Mongolia and Gansu province in the north, where renewable energy resources are plentiful and projects can be built at scale in unpopulated areas. Inner Mongolia and Gansu together added 16.9GW of wind capacity in 2022, accounting for 34pc of last year’s new installations, according to industry group the China Wind Energy Association.