Beijing, March 27 – Amid pleasant spring breezes and renewed vitality across the nation, the three-day 2026 China International Hydrogen Congress and Expo (CIHC 2026) has successfully concluded in Beijing.

 

 

 

 

As a landmark event in the inaugural year of the 15th Five-Year Plan period, this premier hydrogen industry exhibition fully showcased the vibrant momentum of China’s hydrogen sector, from technological breakthroughs to scenario application, injecting strong impetus into the large-scale, market-oriented and global development of the hydrogen industry in the 15th Five-Year Plan era.

 

1 New Heights in Scale, Covering the Full Industrial Chain

 

The exhibition reached new heights in scale and influence. It attracted more than 500 domestic and international companies and institutions from 14 countries, with over 3,500 exhibitors and nearly 100,000 professional visitors from 77 countries and regions gathering for this spring event.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A total of 29 central state-owned companies participated, including China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, China State Shipbuilding Corporation, State Grid Corporation, Huadian Hydrogen, State Power Investment Corporation, China Energy Investment Corporation, Dongfang Electric Corporation and CRRC. Also joining were 86 multinational companies such as Bosch, Bureau Veritas, Cummins, and Schaeffler, together with 70 members of the China Hydrogen Alliance.

 

The national pavilion of Norway, along with regional pavilions including the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department of Hong Kong SAR, Xiamen Airport Economic Zone, Ordos and Qingdao Hydrogen Industrial Park, made a collective appearance.

 

This formed a collaborative landscape led by central SOEs, dynamic private companies, concentrated foreign investment and coordinated regional development, covering the entire industrial chain of hydrogen production, storage, transportation, distribution, refueling and application, fully demonstrating the strong strength and huge appeal of China’s hydrogen industry.

 

The event also achieved new standards of professionalism and authority. Top academicians, industry leaders, representatives of international organizations and policymakers gathered to exchange ideas and build consensus.

 

There are nearly 3,000 distinguished guests attended CIHC2026 conference, including officials from SASAC, MIIT, MOFCOM, MEE, SAMR, NEA, China Electricity Council, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China Energy Investment Corporation, Electrical and Mechanical Services Department of the Hong Kong SAR Government, Hydrogen Committee of Chinese Renewable Energy Society and China Hydrogen Alliance, as well as renowned academicians and experts, and representatives from UNDP, Hydrogen Council, IRENA and Innovation Norway. Together they discussed strategies for the development of China’s hydrogen industry.

 

Media coverage and public influence reached unprecedented levels. More than 100 Chinese and foreign media outlets reported on the event on-site or via official platforms, including Xinhua News Agency, CMG, People’s Daily, NEA, People.com.cn, Xinhuanet, CNR Economic Radio, Science and Technology Daily, Agence France-Presse and NRK. CCTV News released three special on-site reports focusing on CIHC 2026 and hydrogen development in the 15th Five-Year Plan. Nine media organizations and 15 platforms provided full live coverage of the 2026 International Hydrogen Congress, including CCTV.com, Xinhuanet, Xuexi Qiangguo, China Energy Network, China Hydrogen Alliance and China Energy Investment Corporation, conveying the strong voice of China’s hydrogen development.

 

 

 

CIHC 2026 served as a global launchpad for hydrogen innovation, with over 60 cutting-edge technologies and core pieces of equipment making their debut, covering the full hydrogen value chain. Reflecting the real impact of innovation, more than 40 cooperation agreements were signed during the exhibition, covering joint R&D, industrial chain collaboration and other fields.In addition, mainstream technical routes including alkaline electrolysis (ALK), proton exchange membrane electrolysis (PEM) and anion exchange membrane electrolysis (AEM) competed side by side. Technologies such as high-pressure gaseous hydrogen storage, liquid hydrogen storage and transportation, and solid-state hydrogen storage were prominently displayed. Diverse application scenarios from industry to daily life brought hydrogen “black technology” within reach. The fierce competition and complementary optimization of multiple technologies provide solid support for China to seize the commanding heights of the global hydrogen industry, ensure the security and stability of the energy supply chain, and achieve high-quality and sustainable development.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2 Major Achievements Unveiled to Guide Industrial Development

 

CIHC 2026 released a series of authoritative reports, delivering authoritative, professional and forward-looking industry insights and development guidance from the perspectives of technological innovation, industrial research and global vision, highlighting the confidence and direction of China’s hydrogen industry at the key starting point of the 15th Five-Year Plan.

 

Authoritative achievements reports unveiled included:

 

Green Hydrogen Technological Innovation and Development Opportunities in the 15th Five-Year Plan,

 

Connectivity Inside and Out, Building the Hydrogen Future – Hong Kong’s Role and Practice in Serving the National 15th Five-Year Hydrogen Strategy,

 

Research on the Development of the Hydrogen Industry in the 15th Five-Year Plan,

 

Global Hydrogen Development Progress: From Vision to Industrial Practice,

 

International Cooperation in Green Hydrogen Production via Electrolysis,

 

Hydrogen Development in Germany and the EU,

 

Global Green Hydrogen-based Fuel Market Development and Trends,

 

Green Finance Boosting the Development of Hydrogen Industry,

 

Establishing a National Green Exchange to Serve the Green Hydrogen Industry,

 

Green Hydrogen Industrialization and Commercialization Practice,

 

and Large-Scale Development of the Green Hydrogen Economy.

 

These reports provide critical data support and strategic navigation for the orderly development of the industry.

 

Furthermore, CIHC 2026 launched the Global Carbon Code Identification System and Hydrogen Industry Node, an industrial-level digital infrastructure centered on the national industrial internet MA identification system, integrating hydrogen industry node management, identification coding and resolution, full lifecycle data traceability, cross-border carbon footprint accounting, and international mutual recognition of green value.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The launch of the 2026 Hydrogen Specialized, Sophisticated, Unique and New Enterprise Competition will continue to foster a cluster of high-potential hydrogen companies and help elevate the hydrogen industry to a new level.

 

Side events including the Green Hydrogen Coupled Chemical Innovation Forum, China-Norway Green Transition and Hydrogen Forum, and Hydrogen Globalization · Canada Hydrogen Industry Exchange Forum held in-depth discussions on technological collaboration, international cooperation and joint standard-setting.

 

3 Embarking on the 15th Five-Year Plan to Draw a Blueprint for the Future

 

Closely aligned with national development priorities, CIHC 2026 showcased technological breakthroughs, diversified scenario applications and international cooperation achievements across the entire hydrogen industrial chain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From domestic innovation in production, storage, transmission and application to cross-border collaboration, the event laid a solid foundation for the hydrogen industry to achieve the leap from “10 to 100” in the 15th Five-Year Plan period, supporting the industry’s transition from policy-driven to market-driven growth.

 

As the exhibition concludes, a new journey begins.

 

CIHC 2026 has consolidated industry consensus and demonstrated the strong vitality and vast opportunities of China’s hydrogen industry as it moves toward large-scale, market-oriented and international development.

 

Standing at the new starting point of the 15th Five-Year Plan, the hydrogen industry will seize the momentum, strive for excellence, and forge ahead amid the global wave of green energy transition, contributing Chinese wisdom and strength to the world.

 

Source:FuelCellChina