North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region recently announced its hydrogen energy development plan for the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25).

Hydrogen energy is a clean, efficient and safe secondary source of energy, an important part of the green transformation and development of energy, and a preferred choice for deep decarbonization in the fields of transportation, industry and construction.

Taking advantage of its renewable energy resources, Inner Mongolia will build the city of Ordos into the country's largest center of green hydrogen production and output and application of fuel cell heavy trucks.

The region's capital city of Hohhot is projected to be built into a hydrogen technology research and development center, while the city of Baotou will become a fuel cell heavy truck production center.

The city of Wuhai will build an industrial by-product hydrogen production center, while Ulaanqab, Bayannuur, Alshaa League, Tongliao, Chifeng and Xiliin Gol League will build hydrogen energy comprehensive production centers.

According to the plan, by 2025, Inner Mongolia should have the foundations for a domestically-leading hydrogen energy industry ecological cluster integrating hydrogen energy production, storage, transportation and application.

More than 15 hydrogen energy demonstration projects will be built, with a hydrogen energy supply capacity of 1.6 million metric tons per year. The total industrial output value of the industry is expected to exceed 100 billion yuan ($15.01 billion).

To speed up the construction of hydrogen energy infrastructure, Inner Mongolia will promote the layout and construction of hydrogen refueling station infrastructure. By 2025, the region is projected to be home to 60 hydrogen refueling stations.

By 2030, Inner Mongolia will further expand the coverage of the hydrogen energy industry in the region, including Hinggan League and Hulunbuir city, in the industry's development plan.

It will also expand the application of hydrogen energy in intercity freight, intercity passenger transportation and other transportation fields.

In addition, Inner Mongolia will accelerate the expansion of hydrogen energy commercial application scenarios.