China Issues Hydrogen Energy Pilot Rules for City Clusters

On March 16, China’s MIIT, Ministry of Finance, and NDRC jointly issued the Notice on Launching Pilot Work for Comprehensive Hydrogen Energy Application, to drive the hydrogen industry’s cost reduction, tech breakthroughs and full-chain high-quality development, and advance national green socioeconomic transition.

The city cluster-based pilot, via a "list posting and leader taking" model, will build a "1 FCV general + N industrial + X innovative scenarios" ecosystem, expanding hydrogen applications beyond fuel cell vehicles to transport, industry and emerging sectors, tackling technical bottlenecks to form replicable commercial models. It sets 2030 targets: average terminal hydrogen price below 25 yuan/kg (15 yuan/kg in leading regions); national FCV stock doubling from 2025 levels to 100,000 units.

Voluntarily formed city clusters with a designated lead city must submit applications by April 15, 2026. 5 clusters will be selected via third-party review for the 4-year pilot, which offers central fiscal "rewards in lieu of subsidies" capped at 1.6 billion yuan per cluster, with performance-based disbursement and strict usage rules. The notice also clarifies entities’ responsibilities, full-process supervision and disciplinary measures for underperformance.

Source: China MIIT, March 16, 2026