China is accelerating the development of its hydrogen energy sector, expanding applications from heavy-duty transport to everyday cooking as it advances its green energy transition.

In Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu Province, hydrogen-powered heavy-duty trucks can travel more than 500 kilometres on a 37-kilogram fill, around 100 kilometres farther than conventional diesel trucks for the same fuel cost. In Weifang, Shandong Province, hydrogen blended with conventional gas is also being used in restaurant kitchens.

China's hydrogen production capacity accounts for more than half of the global total, with annual output exceeding 39 million tonnes. The country is expanding its infrastructure, with more than 13,000 kilometres of hydrogen pipelines completed or planned nationwide.

The 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) includes hydrogen energy in the non-fossil energy supply system for the first time. Pilot programmes launched across five city clusters in August 2026 are also supporting wider adoption, while green hydrogen production harnesses abundant wind and solar resources in western China.

As the industry moves towards large-scale development, the coming five years could prove crucial for unlocking its economic and environmental potential.