Hydrogen Energy Application Speeding up in Sichuan, Hydrogen Compressed Natural Gas Vehicles Test Run is being Carried Out

By Sichuan Newspaper

Observer Reporter: Zhu Xueli

Hydrogen energy is a green and efficient secondary energy source and one of the main directions of world energy development. Can we explore more hydrogen energy applications, generate hydrogen through surplus electricity, solve the problems of hydropower consumption in Sichuan province, turn the waste industrial “hydrogen” into treasure, and lead the development of hydrogen energy industry? Sichuan has been actively taking actions.

On November 1st, 2018, the reporter learned from the seminar on hydrogen-contained natural gas promotion held in Chengdu that Sichuan will carry out the test run of hydrogen compressed natural gas vehicles and promote the rapid development of the hydrogen energy industry.

Hydrogen compressed natural gas (HCNG fuel) is to blend a certain proportion of hydrogen into natural gas. Because the heat generated by hydrogen combustion is three times the calorific value of gasoline. According to the data, if the natural gas is mixed with 20% hydrogen, the comprehensive utilization efficiency of energy can be increased by 15%. In other words, compared with pure natural gas buses, hydrogen compressed natural gas vehicles will have a significant reduction in carbon emissions. So the effect of the energy conservation and emission reduction will be significant great. At the same time, hydrogen compressed natural gas will also alleviate the problem of seasonal insufficient natural gas supply to some extent.

“The technology of hydrogen compressed natural gas is already very mature.” According to the relevant person in charge of the provincial energy investment & natural gas investment company, from the technical point of view, to use hydrogen compressed natural gas, there is almost no modification of the original natural gas vehicle. It only needs to be done with the current natural gas vehicle is to add a system for blending hydrogen and natural gas, including specialized cylinders and valves, which would be added to the natural gas re-fueling station.

In February of 2018, Sichuan Provincial Energy & Natural Gas Investment Company and Dongfang Electric, H₂ ERA, Sichuan Gasoline Technology and some other companies set up Sichuan Province Hydrogen Energy & Fuel Cell Industry Innovation Alliance to promote the improvement of hydrogen production, hydrogen storage, hydrogen transport, plus, the hydrogen infrastructure and fuel cell applications in the hydrogen industrial chain. At present, Sichuan has the conditions and advantages to carry out the test run of hydrogen compressed natural gas vehicles.

At the symposium, the participants expressed frankly that there are still some practical problems in the test run of the hydrogen compressed natural gas vehicles in Sichuan province. The first is the adjustment the emission to meet the new standards. According to the new regulations, starting from July 1 of 2019, in the key areas, the Pearl River Delta region, and the Chengdu-Chongqing region, the National Emission Standard IV will implement in advance and encourage to use of gas vehicles that meet this new emission standard. Therefore, the emission of hydrogen compressed natural gas vehicles that are having test run in Sichuan province should also be adjusted to meet this standard. Second, it is necessary to solve the problems of the hydrogen re-fueling stations, hydrogen sources and bus lines as soon as possible to carry out the test run of hydrogen compressed natural gas vehicles.

“Hydrogen compressed natural gas vehicles are not the only way to apply hydrogen energy, but because of the high maturity of technology, it is the most promising direction for rapid industrialization.” The relevant person in charge of the Provincial Economic & Information Technology Commission said.

In fact, “walking with multiple legs” is a realistic choice for Sichuan to explore and promote the application of hydrogen energy. Taking the automobile industry application as an example, Sichuan has chosen to use hydrogen compressed natural gas vehicles and fuel cell vehicles as two-wheel drive to develop hydrogen production, storage, transportation, and hydrogen engine, vehicle, hydrogen re-fueling station infrastructure and key components production, as well as the innovative developments in the field of related materials. In June of 2018, Sichuan’s first hydrogen fuel cell bus test run line has been commercialized in Chengdu’s Pidu District. In addition, Sichuan is also researching and formulating local standards for hydrogenation of natural gas pipeline networks, hoping to promote natural gas hydrogenation for civilian and industrial use, maximizing the proportion of hydrogen energy usage and creating a huge new market.