E3S Web of Conferences 118, 03021 (2019) https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/201911803021 ICAEER 2019

Analysis of Hydrogen Production Potential Based on Resources Situation in China

Yanmei Yang*, Geng Wang, Ling Lin, and Sinan Zhang

China National Institute of Standardization, Beijing, China

Abstract. Hydrogen energy is becoming more and more blooming because of its diversified sources, eco- friendly and green, easy storage and transportation, high-efficient utilization, etc. The use of hydrogen as an energy carrier is expected to grow over the next decades. Hydrogen, like electricity, is a secondary energy. Hydrogen production is the foundation for all kinds of applications. Based on the resources situation in China, potential of hydrogen production is analysed. China has a large potential of hydrogen production from coal, which is about 2.438 billion tons. Potential of hydrogen production from natural gas is less than that from coal, which is about 501 million tons. According to the average consumption of methanol per year, potential of hydrogen production from methanol is about 690,000 tons per year. Potential of hydrogen production from industrial gas (coking, petrochemical and chlor-alkali industries) is about 866,400 tons per year. Potential of hydrogen production from abandoned renewable energy power is about 1798.2 million tons per year. Distribution of resources in China differs among provinces. The deployment of hydrogen industry should pay attention to local hydrogen production potential. A green hydrogen production method, such as water electrolysis by renewable energy power, is a promising and environmental friendly way.

1 Introduction There are many process for hydrogen production, including conventional and alternative energy resources. Hydrogen energy is becoming more and more blooming For a long time, hydrogen has been used in chemical, because of its diversified sources, eco-friendly and green, metallurgical, food industries. As is reported, hydrogen easy storage and transportation, high-efficient utilization, production in China is about 21 million tons in 2016. etc. In recent years, many countries, especially Figure 1 shows the combination of resources for developed countries, have included the deployment of hydrogen production. Around 96% of the global hydrogen energy as a part of their national energy hydrogen production is generated from fossil fuels, strategy [1, 2]. China has also clearly stipulated in many including 48% from natural gas, 30% from hydrocarbons important documents to vigorously develop the hydrogen and alcohols, and 18% from coal. Hydrogen production energy industry. There are 25 cities that have deployed from water electrolysis only accounts for about 4%. hydrogen energy industry in China. Hydrogen fuel cell However, in China, structure of hydrogen production is vehicles, like buses and logistics vehicles, have been different from the global average. In China, about 62% operated for demonstration in Foshan, Shanghai, of hydrogen production is generated from coal, and Zhangjiakou, etc. about 19% of hydrogen production is generated from Hydrogen energy, like electricity, is a secondary natural gas. Hydrogen production by water electrolysis energy, which is not available in nature. It can be only accounts for about 1%. produced by using diverse resources, including fossil fuels (such as coal, natural gas and methanol) and 1% renewable energy (such as biomass, solar, wind and 4% hydro-electric power). 18% 18% Resources in China is characterised as rich coal, lean oil 30% and little gas [3]. Based on the resources situation, 19% 62% hydrogen production by coal gasification, steam methane 48% reforming, water electrolysis and purification of industrial gas is analysed in this paper. Considering hydrogen energy demand, suggestions for options of hydrogen production methods are proposed. coal natural gas hydrocarbons & alcohols water electrolysis （a）global average （b）China

2 Hydrogen production methods Fig. 1. Combination of Resources for Hydrogen Production [4]

* Corresponding author: [email protected]

© The Authors, published by EDP Sciences. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). E3S Web of Conferences 118, 03021 (2019) https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/201911803021 ICAEER 2019

3 Analysis of hydrogen production Figure 4 is a typical process of hydrogen production by steam reforming of natural gas, including Coal gasification and steam reforming of natural gas are desulfurization, reforming reaction, shift conversion and the main methods of hydrogen production in China. purification. Moreover, water electrolysis by wind-power, solar- power and hydro-power is a promising way to produce CO2 PSA NG desulfrizaiton reformer Shift conversion H green hydrogen. system 2 steam 3.1 Coal gasification Fig. 4. Process of Hydrogen Production by Steam Reforming Figure 2 is a typical process of hydrogen production by of Natural Gas coal gasification, including coal or char gasification with steam or oxygen, desulfurization, shift conversion and China has a relatively scarce natural gas reserves. purification. The geological reserves of natural gas in China are 90.3 trillion cubic meters and the recoverable reserves are [6] coal/char CO2 50.1 trillion cubic meters . Domestic natural gas coal water slurry Shift PSA gasifier desulfrizaiton H resources are mainly distributed in the central part, conversion system 2 steam western part and offshore areas, including Sichuan Basin, O2 Ordos Basin, Tarim Basin, Qaidam Basin, Junggar Basin, air air separation device N2 Bohai Bay Basin, Qiongdongnan Basin, etc. It takes 5 Nm3 natural gas to produce about 1 kg Fig. 2. Process of Hydrogen Production by Coal Gasification hydrogen gas. Assuming that 5% of China's recoverable China has abundant coal resources. Coalfield natural gas resources are used for steam reforming of geological survey results show that total amount of natural gas to produce hydrogen, the potential of prospective coal resources in China is 5.82 trillion tons. hydrogen production from natural gas is about 501 Now, the cumulative proven reserves are 2.01 trillion million tons. tons, and the reserves are about 1.95 trillion tons [5]. It takes 8 kg coal to produce about 1 kg hydrogen gas. 3.3 Reforming of methanol Assuming that 1% of China's coal resources are used for hydrogen production by coal gasification, the potential Figure 5 is a typical process of hydrogen production by of hydrogen production from coal is about 2.438 billion reforming of methanol, including mixing system, tons. reforming reaction and purification. Potential of hydrogen production based on coal CO reserves differs among different provinces. Mainly 2 mixing PSA Methanol reformer H domestic coals are distributed in Shanxi, Shaanxi, Inner system system 2 Mongolia, Ningxia, Xinjiang, Huanghuaihai district and Southwest China, only a small amount distributes in water Southeast China. As a result, coal-rich district has a Fig. 5. Process of Hydrogen Production by Reforming of much higher potential of hydrogen production than the Methanol coal-lean district. The potential of hydrogen production based on domestic coal reserves is shown in Figure 3. As is shown in Figure 6, the consumption of methanol in China is about 50 million tons per year. It takes 7.2 kg methanol to produce about 1 kg hydrogen Heilongjiang gas. Assuming that 1% of the consumption of methanol are used to produce hydrogen by reforming of methanol, Jilin Xi n ji ang the potential of hydrogen production from methanol is Liaoning InnerMongolia Beijing about 690,000 tons per year. 0.00~0.03 Ti a n j i ng Hebei

0.03~0.05 l Q inghai Ningxia Shanxi Unit: ten thousand tons 0.05~0.08 Shandong 6000 0.08~0.10 Gansu Henan Jiangsu 0.10~0.13 Ti be t Shaanxi production Anhui 0.13~0.25 Sichuang Hubei Shanghai 5000 import 0.25~0.38 Chongqing Zhejiang export 4529 0.38~0.50 4314 0.50~0.63 HunanJiangxi 4011 Guizhou 4000 0.63~1.25 3741 Yunnan Fu ji an 1.25~2.50 Guangxi Ta i w a n 2.50~5.00 Guangdong 3000 2878 5.00~7.50 MacaoHong Kong 7.50~10.00 Hainan 10.00+ 2000 Unit: hundred million tons 1000 880 815 Fig. 3. Potential of Hydrogen Production Based on Coal 486 433 554 77 75 0 16 3 13

Reserves of Methano and Consumption Produciton 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Fig. 6. Production and Consumption of Methanol in China [4] 3.2 Steam reforming of natural gas

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3.4 Hydrogen-rich industrial gas According to the theoretical calculation, producing one ton of propylene will eliminate 47.26 kg hydrogen Hydrogen-rich gases are mainly distributed in coking, gas. Assuming that all existing PDH units are put into petrochemical, chlor-alkali industries, etc. Recovering operation at full load, efficiency of PSA is 92% and 10% and utilizing hydrogen from industrial gas can not only of gas produced by PDH is used, the potential of improve the comprehensive utilization efficiency of hydrogen production from PHD industry is about resources and promote economic benefits, but also 225,000 tons per year. Hydrogen production potential reduce air pollution and protect the environment. based on distribution of PDH industry is shown in Figure China is a big country in coke production and 8. consumption. Coke industry is mainly distributed in Chlor-alkali industry refers to the production of Shanxi, Hebei, Shaanxi, Shandong, Inner Mongolia, caustic soda, chlorine and hydrogen by electrolysis of Henan, Liaoning, Jiangsu and other regions. Coke salt water. In recent years, the annual production of production process produces a large amount of coke caustic soda in China is about 30 -33 million tons, oven gas. It is estimated that producing one ton of coke mainly distributed in Shandong, Jiangsu, Inner Mongolia, 3 can generate about 400 Nm coke oven gas. According Xinjiang, Zhejiang, Henan and Hebei. Utilization of to the coke production in 2017, the coke oven gas hydrogen in chlor-alkali industry includes two ways: on 3 production is about 172.4 billion Nm . Assuming that the one hand, hydrogen reacts with chlorine to produce hydrogen content in coke oven gas is about 40%, the hydrochloric acid, on the other hand, hydrogen is used to efficiency of PSA is 92% and 10% of the coke oven gas produce chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide or direct is recovered, the potential of hydrogen production from combustion. According to theoretical calculation, coking industry is about 566,400 tons per year. producing one ton of caustic soda will generate 25 kg Hydrogen production potential based on distribution of hydrogen gas. Assuming that the production of caustic cock industry is shown in Figure 7. soda is 30 million tons per year and emission rate of chlor-alkali industry is 10%, the potential of hydrogen production from chlor-alkali industry is about 75,000 Heilongjiang tons per year. Hydrogen production potential based on

Jilin distribution of chlor-alkali industry is shown in Figure 9. Xi n ji ang BeijingLiaoning InnerMongolia 0.00~0.13 Ti a n j i ng 0.13~0.26 Hebei Q inghai Ningxia Shanxi 0.26~0.39 Shandong Heilongjiang 0.39~0.53 Gansu Henan Jiangsu 0.53~0.66 Ti be t Shaanxi Anhui Jilin 0.66~0.79 Sichuang Hubei Shanghai Xi n ji ang 0.79~0.92 Chongqing Zhe jiang Liaoning 0.92~1.05 InnerMongolia Beijing 1.05~1.18 HunanJiangxi Guizhou 0.00~0.00 Ti a n j i ng 1.18~1.31 Fu ji an 0.00~0.03 Hebei Yunnan Qinghai Ningxia Shanxi 1.31~2.63 Guangxi Ta i wa n 0.03~0.05 Shandong Guangdong 2.63~3.94 0.05~0.08 Gansu 3.94~5.26 Henan Jiangsu MacaoHong Kong 0.08~0.10 Ti be t Shaanxi 5.26~10.51 Anhui Hainan 0.10~0.13 Sichuang Hubei Shanghai 10.51+ 0.13~0.15 Zhejiang Unit: ten thousand tons 0.15~0.18 Chongqing 0.18~0.20 HunanJiangxi Guizhou 0.20~0.23 Yunnan Fu ji an Fig. 7. Potential of Hydrogen Production Based on Coke Oven 0.23~0.25 Guangxi Ta i wa n 0.25~0.50 Guangdong 0.50~0.75 Gas MacaoHong Kong 0.75~2.00 Hainan 2.00+ Propane dehydrogenation (PDH) is one of the Unit: ten thousand tons production routes of propylene. It is reported that total production capacity of propylene in China is 5.14 Fig. 9. Potential of Hydrogen Production Based on Chlor-alkali million tons per year, mainly distributed in Shandong, industry Zhejiang, Tianjin, Jiangsu and Hebei. 3.5 Water electrolysis

Heilongjiang Hydrogen production by water electrolysis is an inverse

Jilin process of fuel cell reaction, that is, hydrogen generation Xi n ji ang BeijingLiaoning on cathode and oxygen generation on anode by water InnerMongolia Ti a n j i ng electrolysis. Electrolyser is the central equipment of Hebei Ningxia Shanxi Qinghai Shandong hydrogen production by water electrolysis. At present, Gansu Henan Jiangsu Ti be t Shaanxi there are roughly three types of electrolysers: alkaline Anhui Sichuang Hubei Shanghai electrolyser, proton exchange membrane (PEM) Chongqing Zhejiang HunanJiangxi electrolyser and solid oxide electrolyser (SOE). Figure 0~0 Guizhou 0.15~0.30 Yunnan Fu ji an 10 is a typical process of hydrogen production by water Guangxi Ta i wa n 0.30~0.45 Guangdong 0.45~0.60 electrolysis, including liquid mixing, electrolysis and Hong Kong 0.60~0.75 Macao gas-liquid separation. 0.75+ Hainan Unit: ten thousand tons

Fig. 8. Potential of Hydrogen Production Based on PDH

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electricity separation electrolyser H Heilongjiang system 2 electrolyte Jilin O2 Xi n ji ang Liaoning InnerMongolia Beijing 0~50 Ti a n j i ng Fig. 10. Process of Hydrogen Production by Water Electrolysis 50~100 Hebei Qinghai Ningxia Shanxi 100~200 Shandong 200~300 Gansu Henan Jiangsu In recent years, the scale of hydro-power, wind 300~400 Ti be t Shaanxi Anhui 400~500 Sichuang Hubei Shanghai power, solar power generation in China has gradually 500~600 Zhejiang 600~700 Chongqing increased. Hydrogen production by water electrolysis 700~800 HunanJiangxi Guizhou 800~900 with the use of renewable energy is a near-zero carbon Yunnan Fu ji an 900~1000 Guangxi Ta i wa n 1000~1500 Guangdong emission hydrogen production method. Besides, it is also 1500~2000 MacaoHong Kong 2000~2500 an effective energy storage method, which can improve Hainan 2500+ the utilization of renewable energy. Figure 11 shows the distribution of installed renewable energy power (c) wind-power generation. Unit: ten thousand kWh As is reported, in 2017, abandoned hydropower in China is 51.5 billion kilowatt-hours, including 15.6 Fig. 11. Distribution of Installed Renewable Energy Power billion kilowatt-hours in Sichuan and 29 billion kilowatt- Generation [7] hours in Yunnan. Abandoned wind power in China is 41.9 billion kilowatt-hours, including 13.25 billion 3.6 Other production methods kilowatt-hours in Xinjiang, 2.03 billion kilowatt-hours in Heibei and 200 million kilowatt-hours in Shaanxi. Other hydrogen production methods, such as photolysis Abandoned solar power is 7.3 billion kilowatt-hours. and fermentation are in development and demonstration. Total amount of abandoned soalr power in Shaanxi, With near-zero emission in the production process, these Gansu, Qinghai, Ningxia and Xinjiang is 6.67 billion are promising methods for the production of green kilowatt-hours. Assuming that energy consumption of hydrogen [8]. 3 water electrolyser is 5 kWh/Nm H2, 1798.2 million tons of hydrogen can be produced by abandoned renwable energy power in 2017. 4 Conclusions Based on the resources situation in China, potential of hydrogen production is analysed. Concluding remarks Heilongjiang are as follows: Jilin Xi n ji ang (1) China has a large potential of hydrogen production Liaoning InnerMongolia Beijing from coal, which is about 2.438 billion tons. 0~50 Ti a n j i ng 50~100 Hebei (2) Potential of hydrogen production from natural gas is Qinghai Ningxia Shanxi 100~200 Shandong less than that from coal, which is about 501 million tons. 200~300 Gansu Henan Jiangsu 300~400 Ti be t Shaanxi Anhui (3) According to the average consumption of methanol 400~500 Sichuang Hubei Shanghai 500~600 Zhejiang per year, potential of hydrogen production from 600~700 Chongqing 700~800 HunanJiangxi Guizhou methanol is about 690,000 tons per year. 800~900 Yunnan Fu ji an 900~1000 Guangxi Ta i wa n (4) Potential of hydrogen production from industrial gas 1000~3000 Guangdong 3000~6000 MacaoHong Kong (coking, petrochemical and chlor-alkali industries) is 6000~7000 Hainan 7000+ about 866,400 tons per year, including 566,400 tons from coke oven gas, 225,000 tons from PDH industry (a) hydro-power and 75,000 tons from chlor-alkali industry. (5) Potential of hydrogen production from abandoned

renewable energy power is about 1798.2 million tons per year.

Heilongjiang (6) Distribution of resources in China differs among provinces. The deployment of hydrogen industry should Jilin Xi n ji ang pay attention to local hydrogen production potential. A BeijingLiaoning Gansu InnerMongolia green hydrogen production method, such as water 0~20 Ti a n j i ng 20~40 Hebei Qinghai Ningxia Shanxi electrolysis by renewable energy power, is a promising 40~60 Shandong 60~80 and environmental friendly way. Henan Jiangsu 80~100 Ti be t Shaanxi Anhui 100~200 Sichuang Hubei Shanghai 200~300 Zhejiang 300~400 Chongqing 400~500 HunanJiangxi Guizhou References 500~600 Yunnan Fu ji an 600~700 Guangxi Ta i wa n 700~800 Guangdong 1. Hydrogen Council. Hydrogen scaling up - a 800~900 MacaoHong Kong 900~1000 Hainan sustainable pathway for the global energy transition 1000+ (2017). (b) solar-power

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2. J. D. Holladay, J. Hu, D. L. King, Y. Wang, Catalysis Today 139 17 (2009) 3. K. Xie, W. Li, W. Zhao, Energy 35, 7 (2009) 4. China National Instititue of Standardizaiton. Blue book for infrastructure development of hydrogen industry in China (2018) 5. J. Shu, China Coal Daily (2018) 6. Ministry of Land and Resources, National Dynamic Evaluation of Oil and Gas Resources (2015) 7. China Electric Power Enterprise Federation. Annual Development Report of China Electric Power Industry (2018) 8. P. Nikolaidis, A. Poullikkas, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 67, 5(2017)

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