CIHC 2026 Opens Grandly, Marking the Arrival of the Global Hydrogen Industry's "China Moment"

On March 25, 2026, the three-day China International Hydrogen Congress & Expo 2026 (CIHC 2026) officially opened in Beijing. Held at the pivotal moment marking the successful conclusion of China's 14th Five-Year Plan and the launch of the 15th Five-Year Plan, this industry-leading event served not only as a comprehensive showcase of the hydrogen industry’s new quality productive forces, but also as a vivid demonstration of China's commitment to its "Dual Carbon" goals and its leadership in the global energy transition. The event sent a strong signal to the world that China's hydrogen industry is accelerating from "keeping pace" to "taking the lead".

Distinguished guests attending CIHC 2026 and its related events included:

Bian Guangqi, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Energy Conservation and Science & Technology Equipment of the National Energy Administration; 

Yang Kun, Party Secretary and Executive Vice Chairman of the China Electricity Council; 

Hao Yingjie, Deputy Party Secretary and Secretary-General of the China Electricity Council; 

An Hongguang, Member of the Party Committee and Full-time Vice Chairman of the China Electricity Council; 

Jiang Yufeng, Member of the Party Committee of the China Electricity Council; 

Wang Siqiang, Member of the Party Committee of the China Electricity Council; 

Feng Laifa, Chairman of the China Hydrogen Alliance, Director, General Manager and Deputy Party Secretary of China Energy Investment Corporation; 

Vineet Bhatia, Senior Advisor at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) China Office; 

H.E. Vebjørn Dysvik, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway to China; 

Hanning, Commercial Counsellor of the Royal Norwegian Embassy in China and Head of Innovation Norway China; 

Academician Zheng Nanfeng of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Member of the Strategic Guidance Committee of the China Hydrogen Alliance and Dean of the College of Energy at Xiamen University; 

Ivana Jemelkova, CEO of the Hydrogen Council; 

Yu Zhuoping, Director of the Expert Committee of the China Hydrogen Alliance and Director of the National Intelligent New Energy Vehicle Collaborative Innovation Center; 

Poon Kwok-ying, Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services Department of the Hong Kong SAR Government.

Together, the distinguished guests outlined a new blueprint for the high-quality development of the global hydrogen industry and witnessed a key milestone in China’s hydrogen sector entering a new stage of development.

Scale Defines Leadership, Elevated to a New Level: A 50,000㎡ Global Flagship Exhibition for Green Hydrogen

CIHC 2026 achieved historic breakthroughs in both scale and industry influence, further cementing its role as a benchmark and trendsetter for the hydrogen sector while demonstrating China’s ambition and commitment to the high-quality development of the hydrogen industry. Spanning an impressive 50,000 square meters, the exhibition comprehensively covered the entire hydrogen value chain—including production, storage, transportation, delivery, refueling, and applications—creating a world-class hydrogen ecosystem platform integrating exhibition, exchange, and industrial collaboration.

The exhibition brought together 523 leading exhibitors from 18 countries and regions, showcasing more than 1,000 new technologies, products, and solutions. Participants included strategic industry pillars such as China Energy Investment Corporation, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, Huadian Heavy Industries, NARI Group, China Hydrogen Energy Co., Ltd., CRRC Corporation Limited, PERIC Hydrogen Technologies, Beijing Chemical Machinery, Shanghai Electric, LS Group, Yuchai Hydrogen Energy, and Hangyang Group. At the same time, innovative industrial forces including Sungrow Hydrogen, LONGi Hydrogen, Shuangliang Hydrogen, EVE Hydrogen Energy, Trina Green Hydrogen, and Cockerill Jingli Hydrogen also made strong appearances, alongside international industry leaders such as Bosch, TÜV Rheinland, Bureau Veritas, and John Cockerill. Together, these participants outlined a dynamic global hydrogen ecosystem driven by collaboration and innovation, highlighting the openness, inclusiveness, and vitality of China’s hydrogen industry.

To promote precise industrial matchmaking and coordinated development, the exhibition also featured dedicated sections including the International Pavilion, Technology Commercialization Zone, and City Exhibition Zone, comprehensively showcasing the diversified achievements of the hydrogen industry. Among them, the Norway Pavilion made a major appearance in the International Pavilion, presenting Norway’s cutting-edge hydrogen technologies and development achievements. Twelve universities gathered in the Technology Commercialization Zone to showcase breakthroughs in hydrogen research and achievements in industry–academia–research collaboration, injecting strong intellectual support into industrial innovation. Meanwhile, city delegations including the Qingdao Hydrogen Energy Industrial Park, Xiamen Airport Economic Zone, Ordos, and the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department of the Hong Kong SAR Government demonstrated regional efforts to accelerate hydrogen industry deployment and foster coordinated regional development through efficient cooperation platforms.

Full-Chain Collaboration Breaking Boundaries: A One-Stop Showcase of Hydrogen Industry Vitality

A thriving hydrogen industry drives the broader energy transition, while a strong industrial chain powers sustainable development. From hydrogen production to end-use applications, CIHC 2026 brought together leading global players across the entire hydrogen value chain, achieving a truly comprehensive industry presence. The exhibition not only demonstrated the sector’s technological strength, but also highlighted the rapid commercialization of real-world application scenarios, making hydrogen innovation tangible and accelerating the transition from “technological breakthroughs” to “industrial implementation.”

Among the highlights, China Energy Investment Corporation showcased three core pieces of equipment: China’s first rapid refueling performance testing system compatible with Chinese, American, and European standards; the country’s first specialized testing platform for high-pressure, high-flow hydrogen compressors; and an explosion-proof composite inspection robot.

Huadian Heavy Industries showcased its fully self-developed, designed, and manufactured “Huazhen” series alkaline electrolyzers, whose overall performance has reached a leading domestic level and advanced international standards.

CRRC Corporation Limited presented multiple cutting-edge technological achievements, with its ALK, PEM, and AEM electrolyzer product series attracting significant attention. 

NARI Group focused on hydrogen applications within power systems, demonstrating its “electricity–hydrogen–electricity” bidirectional conversion system and hydrogen energy storage power station solutions.

Meanwhile, Mufan Power unveiled the world’s first gas turbine capable of freely switching among hydrogen, ammonia, and natural gas fuels, marking a disruptive breakthrough in hydrogen power generation and energy storage technologies.

On the application side, hydrogen energy was integrated into everyday life in increasingly tangible ways. Chengdu Jiqing showcased a solid-state hydrogen storage mini bicycle; Jia’an Hydrogen Source introduced a hydrogen-powered electric motorcycle featuring a three-cylinder rapid replacement system; Huawang Hydrogen Energy presented a solid-state hydrogen storage delivery vehicle; and Suzhou Suyu displayed a hydrogen-assisted bicycle. These innovations brought hydrogen “black technologies” within reach and vividly illustrated the limitless possibilities of hydrogen-powered lifestyles.

More importantly, CIHC 2026 was held concurrently with the 16th China Clean Energy Expo, enabling resource integration across the “solar-storage-hydrogen-power” sectors and creating a closed-loop industrial ecosystem linking “green electricity – green hydrogen – application.” This synergy generated a powerful “1+1>2” industrial multiplier effect, providing a practical “China solution” for advancing the global energy transition and industrial transformation.