China is gearing up to commence construction of the world’s lengthiest hydrogen pipeline this year for transporting hydrogen generated from renewable sources.
According to Hydrogeninsight’s report on Thursday, February 29, 2023, the 737-kilometer pipeline project holds the potential for future exports of renewable hydrogen.
Named after its starting and ending points, the Zhangjiakou Kangbao-Caofeidian pipeline will ferry hydrogen produced from renewable sources in Zhangjiakou to Caofeidian Port, situated southeast of Beijing.
The project, valued at 6.1 billion yuan ($845 million), is spearheaded by Tangshan Haitai New Energy Technology (THNET), a subsidiary of Haitai Solar, in collaboration with state-owned oil behemoth China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Corporation (CPPEC).
Construction is slated to kick off in June 2024, with completion targeted for June 2027, contingent upon smooth progress. Upon fruition, the pipeline will operate at a pressure of 63 bars, surpassing China’s current standard of 40 bars, enabling transportation of larger hydrogen volumes.
Chinese authorities indicate the project’s objective is to tackle challenges linked with renewable energy consumption in the area and bolster the growth of hydrogen-powered sectors like heavy-duty trucks, eco-friendly chemicals, and clean fuel exports.
Nevertheless, specifics regarding the particular hydrogen production scheme and THNET’s financing strategy remain undisclosed.
This endeavor emerges within China’s broader aspirations to establish a national hydrogen network spanning up to 6,000 kilometers, with state-owned oil refiner Sinopec also working on a 400-kilometer hydrogen pipeline to link Inner Mongolia with Beijing.