Hydrogen at Scale | China-Europe Cooperation Bridge

Shaping a Green Future, Unlocking the Power of Partnership 
共塑绿色未来，释放合作潜能

Introduction:
The global hydrogen industry is entering a decisive phase. Investments in clean hydrogen have surpassed $110 billion, with more than 500 projects announced worldwide. Far from the skepticism that surrounded earlier initiatives, the sector is now demonstrating staying power: in the past year alone, $35 billion worth of projects reached final investment decisions, a clear signal that hydrogen is moving from vision to implementation.

At the same time, the global energy landscape is shifting. According to a recent analysis, China has emerged as the leader in clean energy deployment, installing nearly 268 gigawatts of solar capacity in just the first half of 2025 – almost three times the rest of the world combined. Fossil fuel use has plateaued, while wind and solar generation are soaring, already meeting the majority of new electricity demand.

These dynamics create a new context: China and Europe, as two of the world’s largest economies, are uniquely positioned to shape the future of green hydrogen. Both have ambitious carbon neutrality targets, strong industrial ecosystems, and global leadership responsibilities. For European companies, this is not only a call to cooperation but also an invitation into the world’s most promising hydrogen market.
引言
全球氢能产业正进入一个关键阶段。清洁氢能投资已超过 1100 亿美元，全球宣布超过500个项目。与早期项目遭遇的怀疑不同，这一行业如今展现出强劲的生命力：仅在过去一年，就有 350 亿美元的项目完成最终投资决策，明确表明氢能正在从愿景走向落地。

与此同时，全球能源格局正在发生深刻变化。最新分析显示，中国已成为清洁能源部署的领导者。仅在 2025 年上半年，中国就新增 268 吉瓦光伏装机容量，几乎是全球其他地区总和的三倍。化石燃料的消费已进入平台期，而风能与太阳能发电量正在快速攀升，满足了大部分新增用电需求。

在这一新背景下，作为全球两大经济体的中国与欧洲，正处于共同塑造绿色氢能未来的关键位置。两者均设定了宏伟的碳中和目标，拥有坚实的产业基础和全球领导责任。对于欧洲企业而言，这不仅是一个合作号召，更是进入全球最具潜力氢能市场的邀请。

China: The Engine of Hydrogen Growth
China’s rise in clean energy is the result of state-driven industrial policy, massive public investment, and integrated domestic supply chains. Last year alone, China invested $625 billion in clean energy – nearly one-third of the global total.

For hydrogen specifically, China has prioritized green hydrogen produced from renewable electricity. This is consistent with its broader strategy to peak carbon emissions before 2030 and achieve neutrality by 2060. Already, four mega hydrogen plants are under construction, signaling the country’s capacity to scale projects at unmatched speed.

Several factors make China an especially favorable market:

• Policy Commitment: Hydrogen is explicitly integrated into China’s “Dual Carbon” strategy, ensuring long-term political and financial support.
• Industrial Scale: China’s leadership in solar, wind, and battery manufacturing creates a strong ecosystem for green hydrogen, where renewable electricity is abundant and cost-competitive.
• Growing Demand: Heavy industry, transport, and chemical production are all prioritizing hydrogen to replace fossil fuels, ensuring robust domestic consumption.
• Global Export Potential: By embedding hydrogen into its energy mix, China also positions itself as a global supplier of hydrogen-based fuels, from ammonia to synthetic aviation fuel.

For European companies, this combination of scale, demand, and government backing means that entering the Chinese market is not a gamble – it is a chance to participate in a system already designed for rapid growth.
中国：氢能增长的强劲引擎
中国在清洁能源领域的崛起是得益于国家主导的产业政策、巨额公共投资和一体化的国内供应链。仅在去年，中国就投入 6250 亿美元用于清洁能源，占全球总投资的近三分之一。

在氢能方面，中国明确将重点放在由可再生电力驱动的绿色氢能。这与其“双碳目标”高度契合：2030 年前实现碳达峰，2060 年前实现碳中和。目前，已有 四个大型氢能项目在建，彰显出中国无与伦比的规模化能力。

中国氢能市场的优势主要体现在以下几个方面：

• 政策承诺：氢能被纳入国家“双碳战略”，长期的政治与财政支持得到保障。
• 产业规模：中国在光伏、风电、电池领域的领先地位，奠定了绿色氢能丰富且低成本的生态体系。
• 需求增长：重工业、交通运输和化工产业正大规模转向氢能替代化石燃料，形成强劲的内需。
• 出口潜力：通过将氢能纳入能源结构，中国还正积极布局成为氢基燃料（如氨和合成航空燃料）的全球供应商。

对于欧洲企业而言，这种规模、需求与政策确定性的结合，使得进入中国市场不是冒险，而是融入一个为高速增长量身打造的体系。

Europe and China: Natural Partners in the Hydrogen Era
While China brings scale and speed, Europe contributes world-class technology, advanced R&D, and regulatory expertise. Together, the two regions can accelerate hydrogen adoption in ways neither could achieve alone.

• Complementary Strengths: Europe leads in electrolyzer innovation, fuel cell design, and safety standards, while China excels in large-scale deployment and cost reduction.
• Shared Climate Goals: Both regions are committed to the Paris Agreement, with Europe targeting net-zero by 2050 and China aiming for neutrality by 2060. Collaboration ensures these pathways are aligned.
• Global Influence: By working together, China and Europe can set international standards for hydrogen production, infrastructure, and trade, shaping the rules of the emerging hydrogen economy.
• Resilient Supply Chains: Joint ventures reduce dependency on single markets and create diversified, sustainable supply chains for critical hydrogen technologies.

In short, collaboration is not optional – it is the most effective route to scale hydrogen globally.
欧洲与中国：氢能时代的天然伙伴
中国具备规模和速度，欧洲则拥有世界领先的技术、研发实力和监管经验。两者强强联合，将推动氢能的发展远超单方所能实现的水平。

• 优势互补：欧洲在电解槽、燃料电池和安全标准上处于领先，而中国在大规模部署与成本下降方面无可匹敌。
• 共同气候目标：欧洲力争 2050 年实现净零排放，中国则承诺在 2060 年实现碳中和，两者的路径天然契合《巴黎协定》。
• 全球影响力：合作使中欧能够共同制定氢能生产、基础设施与贸易的国际标准，塑造全球氢能经济的规则。
• 供应链韧性：合资合作有助于减少单一市场依赖，推动形成多元化、可持续的全球氢能供应链。

简而言之，中欧合作不是选择题，而是推动全球氢能规模化的最佳路径。

Opening Doors: Opportunities In The Two Markets 
For Europe’s industrial base, China represents more than just a customer. It is a partner in co-creating the next era of clean energy.

1. Technology Collaboration

European companies can leverage their expertise in high-efficiency electrolyzers, catalysts, and hydrogen storage solutions by partnering with Chinese firms that are expanding production at scale. Joint R&D centers in China’s hydrogen valleys — from Inner Mongolia to the Yangtze River Delta — can accelerate breakthroughs tailored to industrial needs.

2. Investment and Finance

China’s mega projects are backed by strong state support but also open to international capital. European investors, funds, and utilities can co-invest in demonstration projects, creating bilateral green funds that channel resources into infrastructure, mobility, and industrial applications. This not only diversifies investment risk but also embeds European stakeholders into China’s growth story.

3. Industrial Integration

Hydrogen demand in China’s heavy industry and mobility sectors creates opportunities for European firms to provide premium components and system integration. From hydrogen-powered trucks and buses to clean steel and chemical processes, Europe’s engineering capabilities can complement China’s scaling power. By forming joint ventures, both sides can create globally competitive supply chains.

Meanwhile, for the China’s industrial base, Europe represents advanced technology, regulatory expertise, and access to high-value markets.

1. Technology Leadership

Europe is home to world-class innovations in electrolyzer design, fuel cells, and hydrogen safety systems. Through strategic partnerships, Chinese firms can acquire novel technologies and boost efficiency, reliability, and international competitiveness.

2. Regulatory expertise

Europe’s comprehensive frameworks on hydrogen certification, carbon accounting, and safety protocols provide a reference model. Cooperation provides a gateway for Chinese companies to align with globally leading practices and prepare for international trade.

3. High-Value Markets

Europe’s forward-looking decarbonization agenda creates sustained demand for clean hydrogen and related products. For Chinese producers, Europe is not only a partner, but also a route to the advanced and premium global markets.
中欧氢能市场的机遇之窗
对于欧洲的产业体系而言，中国不仅是市场，更是共同开创清洁能源新时代的重要伙伴。

1. 技术合作

欧洲企业可以发挥其在高效电解槽、催化剂和储氢解决方案方面的专长，与正在大规模扩产的中国企业携手合作。在中国氢能走廊——从内蒙古到长三角——设立联合研发中心，将加速面向工业需求的突破性成果。

2. 投资与金融

中国的大型项目不仅获得强有力的国家支持，同时也对国际资本开放。欧洲的投资者、基金和公用事业公司可以共同投资示范项目，建立双边绿色基金，将资源投入到基础设施、交通和工业应用中。这不仅有助于分散投资风险，也让欧洲的利益相关方深度融入中国氢能增长的故事。

3. 产业融合

中国在重工业和交通领域的氢能需求，正在为欧洲企业提供优质零部件与系统集成的机遇。从氢能卡车与公交，到绿色钢铁与化工工艺，欧洲的工程能力可以与中国的规模化优势互为补充。通过组建合资企业，双方将共同打造具有全球竞争力的供应链。

与此同时，对于中国的产业基础而言，欧洲不仅是合作伙伴，更是先进技术、监管经验与全球认可的重要来源。

1. 技术引领

欧洲在电解槽设计、燃料电池和氢能安全体系方面拥有世界领先的创新成果。通过战略合作，中国企业能够吸收前沿技术，提升效率、可靠性与国际竞争力。 

2. 规则引领

欧洲在氢能认证、碳核算和安全规范方面建立了成熟的框架，成为国际参考标准。与欧洲合作，为中国企业对接全球最佳实践、提升国际贸易竞争力提供了保障。

3. 高端市场

欧洲积极的脱碳战略带来持续的清洁氢能需求，其严格的可持续标准具有高度国际影响力。对于中国企业而言，与欧洲对接不仅意味着市场机会，更意味着在全球范围内的信誉与信任。

Conclusion
The clean hydrogen sector is no longer in its infancy. With $110 billion invested globally and hundreds of projects moving forward, the question is not if hydrogen will scale, but where and how fast. On both counts, China stands out as the most dynamic market. Its unparalleled renewable energy expansion, industrial capacity, and policy commitment make it the engine of global hydrogen growth.

For Europe, the strategic choice is clear. By collaborating with China, European companies can bring their technologies and expertise into a market designed for scale, while also ensuring that hydrogen development aligns with international sustainability standards. In doing so, they will not only secure commercial opportunities but also help shape the global energy transition.

Hydrogen is more than a fuel. It can be a bridge between Europe and China, one that strengthens economic ties, drives innovation, and accelerates the path to carbon neutrality. The time to cross that bridge is now.
结语
清洁氢能产业已不再处于起步阶段。随着全球 1100 亿美元投资和数百个项目的推进，问题已不在于氢能是否会规模化，而在于在哪里、以多快的速度实现。在这两个维度上，中国无疑是最具活力的市场。凭借无与伦比的可再生能源扩张、强大的产业能力和坚定的政策承诺，中国正成为全球氢能增长的引擎。

对于欧洲而言，战略选择已然清晰。通过与中国合作，欧洲企业不仅能够将自身的技术与经验引入一个专为规模化打造的市场，还能确保氢能的发展与国际可持续标准保持一致。这样不仅能获得商业机遇，更能共同塑造全球能源转型的方向。

氢能不仅是一种燃料，更能成为一座连接欧洲与中国的桥梁——它将深化经济纽带，推动创新合作，加速迈向碳中和的道路。现在，正是跨越这座桥梁的时刻。