Sinopec starts green hydrogen project in Xinjiang
State-owned China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) on July 3 announced the start of operations for its green hydrogen pilot project in Kuqa City, Aksu Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
The project utilises solar energy to generate green hydrogen, which is produced by facilities powered by renewable sources like solar and wind energy, thereby reducing the carbon footprint of the entire production process, Sinopec said.
The project aims to produce 20,000 metric tons/year (mt/yr) of green hydrogen. It also includes facilities for hydrogen storage, transportation, and supporting auxiliary production.
The project has a storage capacity of 210,000 m3 and can transport 28,000 m3/hour of hydrogen. The project will supply hydrogen to Sinopec's Tahe Refining & Chemical to replace fossil fuel-based electricity used for hydrogen production, resulting in an estimated annual reduction of 485,000 mt of carbon dioxide emissions.