Design and implementation of China Hydrogen Price Index system

Abstract

Hydrogen will be an important part of China's energy system in the future and an important carrier for energy-using terminals to realize green and low-carbon transformation. It is important to establish a nationwide hydrogen market to promote the healthy and orderly development of the hydrogen industry chain. The core is to form a complete hydrogen price mechanism and play a decisive role in the process of resource allocation by the market. In this paper, we have developed the framework of the 'China Hydrogen Price Index' system by establishing the 'Assessment + Collection' model, which covers four types of hydrogen: hydrogen, clean hydrogen, renewable hydrogen and high-purity hydrogen. The model considers the raw materials required for hydrogen production, fixed equipment, engineering construction costs and carbon prices, and conducts sensitivity analysis on the trends and influencing factors of national and regional hydrogen prices of multiple categories since 2018. The results show that, with respect to the level of hydrogen prices, fossil-energy-rich and renewable-energy-rich areas have more advantages than other regions. The price of raw materials is the main factor of the hydrogen price change, and the utilization hours of renewable energy and hydrogen production equipment have a key influence on the price of renewable hydrogen. Next, by establishing an index update mechanism, improving the standard system and building a trading platform, we can further exert the role of price signals and continue to promote the efficient and smooth expansion of the domestic hydrogen market.