- World largest integrated green hydrogen ammonia and methanol facility starts production in north-east China.
- Project demonstrates scalable model for renewable energy storage transport and industrial use.
- Lessons expected to influence emerging clean fuel markets including Africa.
China Energy Engineering Group, widely known as Energy China, has begun operations at what it describes as the world largest integrated green hydrogen ammonia and methanol project, marking a significant step forward in the industrial use of renewable energy.
The first phase of the Songyuan Hydrogen Energy Industrial Park in Jilin province has been designed to produce 45,000 tonnes of green hydrogen each year, alongside 200,000 tonnes of green ammonia and green methanol. The state owned engineering group confirmed the project entered operation earlier this week.
According to Energy China, the initial phase will save an estimated 600,000 tonnes of standard coal equivalent annually and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 740,000 tonnes. The project combines wind and solar power generation with energy storage electrolysis and chemical synthesis in a single integrated system.
One of the most significant achievements of the development is its ability to address the long standing challenge of aligning intermittent renewable power supply with the continuous operating needs of large scale industrial processes. By tightly integrating generation storage and chemical production, the facility enables stable output of clean fuels while reducing renewable energy curtailment.
Ni Zhen, party secretary and chairman of Energy China, said hydrogen is central to the future of global energy systems and is increasingly viewed as a strategic growth sector. He added that projects such as Songyuan are helping accelerate the commercialisation of hydrogen while strengthening industrial competitiveness.
The company said the project has successfully overcome complex technical challenges including the precise coordination of wind solar storage and hydrogen ammonia and methanol production systems. This integrated approach significantly improves project economics and opens new pathways for cost reduction.
Energy China believes the model demonstrated at Songyuan can support the large scale rollout of green hydrogen and derivative fuels in international markets. For African countries with abundant renewable resources and growing industrial demand, similar projects could play a role in advancing energy security industrialisation and export oriented clean fuel strategies.
Looking ahead, Energy China plans to expand its hydrogen portfolio and use the Songyuan project as a platform for further innovation digital integration and global collaboration as energy systems continue to shift toward low carbon solutions.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
