Hydrogen energy development in China: Potential assessment and policy implications

Hydrogen is a promising alternative energy source for sustainable development worldwide. Despite being the world's largest hydrogen producer, China's hydrogen energy development is uneven across regions and sectors. The lack of a comprehensive and systematic analysis makes it difficult for policymakers to identify critical areas and links for targeted action. This study aims to establish a comprehensive multi-indicator framework based on a supply-demand-policy model to rank the city's hydrogen development potential. Findings are as follows. First, demand, supply, and policy environment shape the hydrogen market. Second, the development potential of hydrogen varies considerably across regions, and regional development is dependent largely on leading cities. Third, four hydrogen development patterns have been identified: advantage-demonstration, policy-guided, market-driven, and potential-enhancing. This research provides theoretical support and practical guidance for building a hydrogen-based society and may also be applied to similar energy sources.