On March 20th, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (hereinafter referred to as “GBA”) Automotive Innovation Forum (3rd phase), themed on “Join Hands in Pilot Projects, Build the Future of Hydrogen Energy – Practice and Exploration for Innovative Development of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle in GBA” (“携手先行示范，共创氢能未来——大湾区氢燃料电池汽车技术创新发展实践与探索”) was staged in Xianhu, Nanhai District. Many industrial experts, including Ye Siyu and Wang Haijiang, two academicians of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, and Cheng Yibing, academician of the Australian Academy of Engineering, shared their thoughts and insights on the conference.

Many experts on hydrogen energy attended the forum

To upgrade Foshan’s manufacturing industry, the key lies in the growth of hydrogen energy industry, especially the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle industry. As early as in 2009, Foshan actively planned the layout of its hydrogen energy industry – measures were taken in areas such as introducing industrial projects, strengthening policy measures, and promoting demonstration and applications. Nanhai District boasts the highest degree of hydrogen energy application in Foshan. The area is now planning to build a “Hydrogen Valley” in Xianhu Lake based on high standards – a high-end industrial cluster, self-reliant technological zone featuring integrated development among production, city, human and culture, a demonstration zone for advanced hydrogen energy.

“Hydrogen Valley” in Xianhu Lake has become a highland for R&D hydrogen energy. The forum has received extensive attention both online and offline, where “how the cities in GBA can achieve win-win development” was first talked about. 

Work report delivered about Xianhlu Lake Laboratory

According to Wang Haijiang, the hydrogen energy industry in GBA, overall, has both advantages and challenges. Speaking of the early planning, local governments has shown strong support. The area has an incomparable environment – strong attraction for talents, powerful innovation capacity, a robust market, solid industrial foundation and a strong commitment towards environmental protection. However, challenges generated from the fact that living expenses in the Pearl River Delta go higher and higher, land resources are fewer and fewer and large-scale state-owned companies are yet to engage in hydrogen energy innovation. These are the common challenges that faces most cities in San Francisco Bay Area.

Ye Siyu called for the resource integration and stronger cooperation among cities in GBA, whether in Guangzhou, Shenzhen or Foshan. Fuel cell enterprises, both upstream and downstream, should strengthen their cooperation. For instance, a cooperation agreement was signed last year jointly by Guangzhou Hongji Chuangneng, Shenzhen General Hydrogen, Foshan Jiping and Dongcai Technology, representing the leading force in membrane electrodes, gas diffusion layers, catalysts, and proton exchange membranes respectively. Such cooperation will effectively promote the high-quality development of the hydrogen energy industry in the GBA and China as a whole.

Cheng Yibing proposed that the government should strive to forge cooperation between research institutions and enterprises to solve key technical challenges. For now, Xianhu Lake Laboratory has covered key technologies such as "grey hydrogen", "blue hydrogen" (fossil-based hydrogen energy) and "green hydrogen" (new energy-based hydrogen energy). However, not all cites in GBA has talents like Foshan to cope with that. The government, therefore, is responsible for building an effective mechanism that integrates R&D capacities, applications and marketing of scientific outcomes.

The forum was held both online and offline and has received extensiveisve attention

The forum also discussed related topics such as training programs for enterprises in hydrogen fuel cell heavy-truck automobile, commercial models of hydrogen energy, hydrogen storage and transportation model and so on. Some other municipal and provincial government departments, universities, enterprise representatives also attended the forum.

Author | Jersey
Revisor | Eleanor
Photo | Mao Lei, Foshan Daily