Shanghai plans to build 510 hydrogen refueling stations by 2020, Chinese media outlet The Paper reported on Thursday, citing a government official’s speech made at a conference and exhibition focusing on energy storage and new forms of fuel held at the Shanghai New International Expo Center.
Fu Guoqing, vice director of the Shanghai Science and Technology Committee, an entity under the Shanghai municipal government, said that government officials are currently evaluating sites for 13 stations.
Shanghai is shaping up as a testing ground for hydrogen vehicles. Fu said that the industry is concentrated in three clusters in Shanghai, with research and development in Jiading district, manufacturing taking place in Pudong district’s Lingang area, and hydrogen power generation in Jinshan district.
SAIC Motor, one of China’s leading automakers, opened “the world’s largest” hydrogen refueling station in the city this week.
Shi Dinghuan, vice chairman of the collaborative initiative International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Economy, highlighted Shanghai’s role in developing industrial byproducts from hydrogen over the years. He said this makes it a “very good” base for developing fuel cells.
In March, premier Li Keqiang stated in his work report that boosting hydrogen refueling facility construction at a national scale is key to the country’s development. It was the first time that the Chinese government identified the sector as holding national importance.