As hydrogen is officially designated a pillar industry in China’s “15th Five-Year Plan,” China Risun Group is seizing the strategic window to enter the high-potential liquid hydrogen sector with forward-looking planning and strong engineering execution capabilities.
First Domestic Large-Scale Hydrogen Liquefaction System Launched
On September 25, 2024, China’s first hydrogen-expansion liquefaction system with a capacity of 5 tons per day was unveiled in Beijing. The project, developed under the tripartite strategic cooperation framework agreement signed by the Dingzhou Municipal Government, Hebei Risun Energy Co., Ltd., and Beijing Aerospace Test Technology Research Institute, will be located in Risun’s Dingzhou Industrial Park. Jointly built with Aerospace Hydrogen Energy Technology Co., Ltd., the system marks a major technological success and industrial breakthrough in China’s large-scale liquid hydrogen production.
Paving the Way for Civil Liquid Hydrogen Commercialization
Construction of the demonstration project in Dingzhou is progressing smoothly and is expected to be operational in the first half of this year. Once commissioned, Risun Hydrogen Energy will achieve a critical leap in its full-chain capabilities spanning production, storage, transportation, refueling, utilization, and R&D. The company is poised to become the first in China with large-scale commercial liquid hydrogen operations, breaking long-standing foreign technology barriers and opening the door to civil liquid hydrogen commercialization.
Solving Bottlenecks in Hydrogen Logistics
Currently, gaseous hydrogen faces high storage and transport costs with low efficiency, limiting large-scale applications. Liquid hydrogen, with an energy density more than 800 times that of gaseous hydrogen, is ideal for long-distance transport and large-scale storage. As China’s liquid hydrogen industry is still in its infancy, Risun’s demonstration project carries special significance, addressing critical bottlenecks and advancing the “last mile” of the hydrogen economy.
Building a National Liquid Hydrogen Supply Hub
Leveraging Risun’s by-product hydrogen resources, the project will establish a civil liquid hydrogen plant, cryogenic tank trucks, dual-mode storage facilities, and solid-state hydrogen refueling stations. It will provide safe and stable demonstration applications across the full chain, develop techno-economic models, and gradually position Dingzhou as a national liquid hydrogen supply center. The facility will prioritize hydrogen supply for aerospace, electronics, and transportation projects, while also conducting long-distance transport demonstrations. Plans are underway to upgrade to a 30-ton/day liquefaction system, forming a larger integrated liquid hydrogen capacity to meet demand across Beijing, Tianjin, and North China.
Multi-Dimensional Expansion for Scaled Growth
As a national demonstration project, Risun’s initiative pioneers a closed-loop liquid hydrogen ecosystem, offering pathways and engineering experience for industry-wide scaling.
Technology: Validates China’s first large-scale hydrogen liquefaction system, reducing energy consumption by over 40% compared to smaller processes, reaching international standards.
Application: Supports national missions, demonstrates liquid hydrogen logistics with heavy-duty trucks, and deploys supporting infrastructure.
Scale: Expands from 5 tons/day to 30 tons/day.
Policy: Included in ultra-long-term special government bond programs and listed as a key construction project in Hebei Province.
Strengthening the Full Hydrogen Value Chain
Risun Hydrogen Energy is already a major supplier in North China, operating four high-purity hydrogen production bases and four refueling stations. By 2025, hydrogen production and sales are expected to exceed 23 million cubic meters, accounting for over 20% of the regional market. Certified for clean hydrogen for three consecutive years, Risun maintains lifecycle carbon emissions below 0.49 kg/kg H₂, reducing over 78,000 tons of carbon annually. The company currently operates three hydrogen-powered heavy truck logistics routes with 142 fuel cell trucks in service. With the launch of the liquid hydrogen project, Risun will establish a complete chain from production to long-term storage, cross-regional transport, diversified refueling, and end-use applications, positioning itself as a national leader in hydrogen—particularly liquid hydrogen.
Policy Tailwinds and Future Outlook
China’s “15th Five-Year Plan” calls for proactive development of hydrogen as a future industry, with ministries rolling out supportive policies including scaled deployment of fuel cell vehicles. Against this backdrop, Risun Hydrogen Energy is entering a critical inflection point for industrial growth. The company will continue to expand its by-product hydrogen operations, actively explore green hydrogen opportunities, and evaluate mergers and acquisitions in hydrogen equipment manufacturing. As a pioneer in liquid hydrogen industrialization, Risun aims to play a vital role in advancing China’s liquid hydrogen industry from “zero to one” and onward to scaled development, contributing to the nation’s clean energy transition.
