Arnhem, 29th October 2020 – The Sino-Dutch Hydrogen Energy and Fuel Cell Application Forum was held online on the 29th of October 2020. Nearly 100 government representatives, hydrogen fuel cell experts and entrepreneurs from China and the Netherlands participated online, focusing on the development of hydrogen energy and tapping new momentum for economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. This event, organised by HyNed, was co-sponsored by RVO, Oost NL, Brainport Development and Rotterdam Partners.
HyNed, the Dutch Hydrogen Network, organised the Sino-Dutch H2 Forum to connect Dutch knowledge on hydrogen fuel cell technology with the Chinese market. At the forum, government representatives, hydrogen fuel cell experts and business representatives updated each other on the recent developments from both European and Chinese hydrogen fuel cell markets, and the latest research on hydrogen supply chain in inland shipping application.
The Executive Director of the European Union ‘Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking’ (EU FCH-JU), Bart Biebuyck, said that the European Commission issued the "EU Hydrogen Strategy" in July 2020, setting the ambitious goal of huge investments in the development of hydrogen energy in the next ten years. He said: "The EU already engaged in certain degree of cooperation and development in hydrogen energy with China, and we look forward to develop our hydrogen energy-related cooperation with China on more levels.".
The Economic and Commercial Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in the Hague, Zhang Guosheng, said at the event that both China and the Netherlands are active participants, supporters, promoters and contributors to global climate change actions. As a clean energy with great potential, hydrogen energy plays an important role in promoting low-carbon energy and transportation electrification. It also provides a valuable opportunity for countries to transform into green, sustainable, and resilient economies in the post-epidemic period.
Theo Hendriks, CEO of HyMove and chairman of HyNed, presented the preliminary results of the hydrogen in inland shipping programme phase 1. Phase 1 is a feasibility study on various hydrogen carriers for inland shipping application. The study is a part of a strategic program to develop and realise hydrogen based inland shipping supply chains. The final results of the study have been published in November 2020.
Innovation officer of the Dutch Consulate-General in Guangzhou, Fons Klein Tuente, presented an overview of the current hydrogen fuel cell market in China. At the moment, there is no official strategy on hydrogen from the national government. Yet, in 2015, China has published an initiative to upgrade China’s manufacturing industry, including hydrogen as a key technology to develop in the energy vehicle market in ten years.
Hongbo Li, executive secretary of the China Hydrogen Industrial Technology Innovation Alliance (HITIA), gave a short introduction about the history, organisation and main members of the alliance. Next, he presented an overview of the current supply chain of hydrogen fuel cell in China, including the advanced and promising technology of Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier (LOHC) by Hynertech.
Delegates from both sides believed that the development of the hydrogen energy industry not only has great potential for the economic development of China and the Netherlands, but also can bring new opportunities to bilateral economic and trade cooperation.
For more information about the event, HyNed or the study report, please contact Tina Pan by email: tina.pan@hyned-china.com.