According to the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Department of Finance, Ordos, Baotou, Wuhai, Xilin Gol League, Chifeng, Hinggan League, and Ulanqab in Inner Mongolia have successfully been selected through competitive review as part of the first batch of national hydrogen energy comprehensive application pilot cities.
During the pilot period of four years, the seven league cities are expected to secure central reward funds totaling 1.28 billion yuan. The Ministry of Finance has already allocated the first batch of reward funds amounting to 470 million yuan to Inner Mongolia.
In accordance with policy requirements including the Medium- and Long-Term Plan for the Development of the Hydrogen Energy Industry (2021-2035), jointly issued by the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration on March 23, 2022, and the Implementation Plan for Accelerating Clean and Low-Carbon Hydrogen Application in the Industrial Sector, jointly issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the National Energy Administration on December 30, 2024, starting this year the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Finance, and the National Development and Reform Commission have adopted a competitive selection mechanism to identify city clusters with solid industrial foundations, rich application scenarios, outstanding hydrogen supply guarantees, and complete industrial chain systems to carry out comprehensive hydrogen energy application pilot work.
The pilot program encourages pilot regions to explore new models for commercialized comprehensive hydrogen application, connect the entire hydrogen industry chain of production, storage, transportation, and utilization, and support the comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development.
The seven league cities in Inner Mongolia selected for the first batch of national hydrogen energy comprehensive application pilot cities possess strong industrial foundations in industrial scenarios such as hydrogen-based chemical raw material substitution, green ammonia and methanol, hydrogen blending combustion, and hydrogen metallurgy, as well as innovative application scenarios including rail locomotives, new-type energy storage, and mining trucks.
During the pilot period, the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Department of Finance plans to allocate no less than 1.28 billion yuan in supporting funds to jointly promote the implementation of a number of key hydrogen energy projects, explore and form replicable and scalable commercial application models, facilitate carbon reduction in traditional industries, help address the challenge of wind and solar power consumption, and provide strong support for the high-quality development of Inner Mongolia's modern energy economy.