China became the world’s largest producer and consumer of hydrogen in 2024, with total output and usage exceeding 36.5 million tonnes, according to the newly released China Hydrogen Energy Development Report (2025), compiled by the National Energy Administration (NEA) and industry experts.
Source: Science and Technology Daily
China became the world’s largest producer and consumer of hydrogen in 2024, with total output and usage exceeding 36.5 million tonnes, according to the newly released China Hydrogen Energy Development Report (2025), compiled by the National Energy Administration (NEA) and industry experts.
“As of the end of 2024, global installed capacity for renewable hydrogen production surpassed 250,000 tonnes per year, with China accounting for over half,” said Xu Jilin, Deputy Director of the NEA’s Department of Energy Conservation and Science & Technology Equipment. “China is emerging as a global leader in renewable hydrogen and its supporting industries.”
By year-end, China’s total hydrogen production capacity reached over 50 million tonnes annually, up 1.6% from the previous year. Fossil fuel-based hydrogen remains dominant, while capacity for hydrogen produced via electrolysis reached 500,000 tonnes, with annual output around 320,000 tonnes—up 3.6% year-on-year. More than 600 renewable-powered electrolytic hydrogen projects have been planned or launched across the country. Completed capacity totaled approximately 125,000 tonnes per year, with 45% located in North China and 44% in the northwest. In 2024 alone, 35 new projects were completed, adding 48,000 tonnes of capacity—an increase of 62% year-on-year.
Hydrogen production and consumption are concentrated in traditional heavy industrial regions such as Shandong, Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi, Ningxia, and Shanxi. Methanol and ammonia synthesis remained the top use cases, consuming about 9.95 million and 9.5 million tonnes of hydrogen respectively—together accounting for over half of total domestic hydrogen consumption.
Reproduced article do not represent the position of New Energy Era.