With the development of hydrogen energy industry, the number of hydrogen stations in the world has increased, but the operational difficulties have become prominent. The number of hydrogen stations in China ranks first in the world, but the speed of operation has slowed down and the loss is serious. Problems such as inconsistent policies, lengthy approval process and high cost hinder the development of hydrogen stations. In the future, it is necessary to reduce costs and optimize the policy environment to promote the healthy development of the industry.
With the promotion of hydrogen energy industry and the frequent introduction of policies at the national level, as an infrastructure that can not be ignored in the hydrogen energy industry, hydrogen stations seem to usher in spring. According to
the International Research Report on Hydrogen Energy Technology and Industry Development 2023 (hereinafter referred to as the Report), compiled by the Hydrogen Energy Branch of the China Association for the Promotion of Industrial Development on September 17, 1024 hydrogenation stations have been built in the world by the end of 2022. Among them, the technology of hydrogen production by electrolysis of water in the station has been widely used in European hydrogen refueling stations.
But along with the soaring volume of hydrogen stations, there are a series of hidden problems and challenges.
Abundant and stable hydrogen sources are the guarantee for the normal operation of hydrogen refueling stations.
Recently, McPhy, a French electrolyzer and hydrogen station supplier, said that it had entered an exclusive negotiation stage with Atawey, a peer company, and that McPhy would sell the company's hydrogen station business to Atawey.
It is reported that European countries have successively allocated special funds for hydrogen industry subsidies, but in fact, the operational difficulties of hydrogen stations can not be ignored.
According to the report, by the end of 2022, 358 hydrogenation stations have been built in China, mainly 35 MPa external hydrogen supply stations, and only 28 70 MPa hydrogenation stations. There is only one liquid hydrogen station. The layout speed of 35MPa commercial vehicle hydrogen station and oil-gas-hydrogen-electricity hybrid energy station
in China ranks first in the world.
However, according to statistics, from January to June, 23 hydrogenation stations were built in China, down 32.3% from the same period last year. The main reason for the slowdown in the construction of hydrogenation stations is the poor operation.
Foreign countries have also spread the news of "warning" of the operation of hydrogen stations one after another this year.
As a leading company of hydrogen production from electrolyzed water in France, Mcphy has to slow down the pace of its capacity layout. In response to the sale of the hydrogenation business, McPhy said it would concentrate its resources on the production of electrolyzers in the future.
It is reported that Mcphy's revenue in 2022 was $0.17 billion, + 22% year-on-year, of which 68% were electrolyzers and 32% were hydrogenation stations.
At present, McPhy's loss is mainly due to the 32% of hydrogen fuel station supply revenue, with 40 stations in the portfolio of projects signed, in service and/or under implementation.
This is also the reason why the vast majority of manufacturers have called off the business of hydrogen refueling stations at present-the cost of burning is endless.
This is not the only dilemma facing hydrogen refueling stations in the quagmire.
At present, China has not yet issued regulations on the approval procedures of hydrogenation stations, and some cities that have built hydrogenation stations provide a model for the approval and construction of hydrogenation stations by formulating local management measures for hydrogenation stations, which also leads to the different process management in different places. The
inconsistent policy standards and imperfect corresponding documents have led to the lengthy difficulties in the whole process from approval to construction and operation of hydrogenation stations.
Hazardous chemicals business license, gas business license, hydrogen station business license and other licenses, as well as the global guidelines for hydrogen stations that have not yet been unified, have also deepened the obstacles to the operation of hydrogen stations. In the
early stage, the cost is as high as tens of millions of yuan, but in the process of putting into operation, any small episode also makes the way of putting into operation of the hydrogenation station unsustainable.
By the end of 2022, 12,000 fuel cell vehicles had been sold nationwide . According to statistics, from January to September this year, the production and sales of fuel cell vehicles in China were 3000, up 25.2% and 37.3% respectively from the same period last year, and the growth rate was less than market expectation. The actual number of fuel vehicles in operation in the
downturn adds another layer of frost to the operation of hydrogen stations. In May
this year, Motive, a joint venture of ITM, announced that it would close two hydrogen refueling stations in London on May 26, 2023 due to insufficient demand for hydrogen for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
Earlier, the company admitted that since 2019, the company has lost 2 million pounds ( $2.5 million) a year in the construction of light vehicle hydrogen stations. Plug,
which suffered a serious loss in the third quarter, also said that the hydrogen shortage caused the company's hydrogen station business to suffer losses, and the serious hydrogen shortage had a negative impact on service costs, making the company's performance poor.
ITM's CEO Dennis Schulz has previously said he wants the loss-making company to focus on fewer core products, especially electrolyzers. There are fewer heavy trucks on the road than originally expected.
Although facing challenges as a whole, domestic manufacturers have also taken measures to save themselves, expanding the industrial chain upward and launching skid-body filling schemes around the hydrogenation station itself. At the end of this year, five places successively issued the Measures for the Management of Hydrogenation Stations (Interim), allowing the construction of integrated hydrogen production and hydrogenation stations in non-chemical industry parks. The trial of
many policies has finally loosened the shackles of the hydrogenation station out of the chemical industry park.
The fundamental reason for the high operating cost of hydrogenation stations is the high hydrogen price. In 2023, according to the hydrogen price requirements of the demonstration urban agglomeration, the price of hydrogenation is 35 yuan per kilogram, while the government subsidy is 15 yuan per kilogram. Yi Baolian, a member of the Strategic Steering Committee of
China Hydrogen Energy Alliance and academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, has proposed that if the construction cost of the hydrogenation station is calculated according to 12 million to 15 million, the construction cost of the high-pressure hydrogenation station will reach 20 million. If government subsidies are
thrown away, the hydrogenation cost of hydrogenation stations will be as high as 60-70 yuan per kilogram, and only when it is reduced to less than 30 yuan can it compete with fuel vehicles.
According to the forecast of relevant research institutions, including more than 100 hydrogenation stations currently in operation, the state of loss is probably normal. At present
, the newly built or operating hydrogen stations basically rely on government subsidies to maintain their daily operation, including Jinyuan Hydrogen Energy, which is currently bravely entering the third domestic hydrogen energy listed company, and may be ready to fight a protracted war in the future.
(Originally published as "The Lost" Hydrogen Refueling Station)
浙公网安备33010802003254号