On September 18, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) released the inaugural list for the creation of national emerging industry development demonstration bases. After a rigorous multi-stage selection process—including independent enterprise applications, local authority recommendations, formal reviews, expert evaluations, and public disclosure—a total of 21 park-level and 112 enterprise-level entities were shortlisted for the program.
In the clean low-carbon hydrogen segment, three companies stood out: Shandong Dongyue Future Hydrogen Energy Material Co., Ltd., Shijiazhuang Enric Gas Machinery Co., Ltd., and Jiangsu Guofu Hydrogen Energy Equipment Co., Ltd. (GUOFUHEE). These firms have been designated as benchmark cultivation targets across different links of the hydrogen industrial chain.
What the pilot program entails
The creation of these demonstration bases is a key strategic move to foster the growth of emerging industries in China. Being listed does not equate to an immediate official designation; rather, it kicks off a defined creation cycle. During this period, selected enterprises and parks must refine and implement detailed action plans to deliver on their demonstration tasks. The MIIT, together with local industrial authorities, will provide ongoing guidance, tracking, and supporting policies to help these entities meet their preset objectives.
Upon completion of the creation cycle, the MIIT will conduct a unified assessment and acceptance review. Only after passing this evaluation will an entity be officially certified as a national emerging industry development demonstration base. The mature practices and industrial models developed will then be promoted and replicated nationwide.
Three firms anchor critical links in the hydrogen value chain
The three companies selected for clean hydrogen cover distinct core segments—key materials and storage/transport equipment—creating a well-rounded and complementary industrial layout.
Shandong Dongyue Future Hydrogen Energy Material Co., Ltd., headquartered in Shandong, specializes in proton exchange membranes (PEM) and other core membrane materials for fuel cells. The PEM is a vital component of hydrogen fuel cells and has long been a bottleneck constraining the localization of hydrogen equipment in China. The company is advancing the domestic production and scale-up of membrane materials, supplying essential support for fuel cells and electrolyzer systems. It stands as a representative leader in achieving self-reliance for critical hydrogen materials.
Shijiazhuang Enric Gas Machinery Co., Ltd., based in Hebei, focuses on the manufacturing of high-pressure gas storage and transport equipment. Hydrogen storage and transportation pose significant challenges for large-scale industrial deployment. With deep expertise in high-pressure hydrogen storage vessels and integrated gas equipment, the company provides the hardware backbone for safe storage and long-distance hydrogen transport, effectively bridging the logistics gap in the hydrogen supply chain.
Jiangsu Guofu Hydrogen Energy Equipment Co., Ltd. (GUOFUHEE), located in Jiangsu, operates across hydrogen production equipment, storage containers, and complete hydrogen refueling station systems. As a one-stop integrated service provider, its products are widely applied in production, storage, transport, and refueling scenarios, playing a pivotal role in building out hydrogen infrastructure.
Together, these three enterprises vertically integrate the upstream core components and infrastructure equipment segments, showcasing China's industrial competitiveness in critical materials and key equipment within the clean hydrogen sector.
Driving quality upgrades and scaling hydrogen adoption
China's clean low-carbon hydrogen industry is currently navigating a critical transition from demonstration projects to commercial viability. Real challenges persist, including high costs across the supply chain, insufficient validation at scale, and an incomplete standardization framework. The national demonstration base initiative aims to address these gaps by selecting high-caliber entities to serve as benchmarks and drive sector-wide improvements through example.
Enterprises on the creation list are expected to persistently advance technological iteration, expand industrial capacity, and demonstrate application scenarios during the cycle. The goal is to generate replicable technical pathways, manufacturing processes, and business models. Through this cultivation mechanism, companies can strengthen industry-academia-research collaborations, reduce costs and boost efficiency of core products, and spur the growth of upstream and downstream partners.
From a broader perspective, clean hydrogen is a key branch of emerging industries with vast application potential in industrial decarbonization, heavy-duty transport, and energy storage. The inclusion of these three firms in the inaugural list underscores national emphasis on commercializing 'bottleneck' segments such as core materials and storage equipment. Benchmark leadership from these companies will help refine the entire hydrogen value chain, expedite multi-scenario deployment, and support the green energy transition.
Ushering in a new growth phase for the hydrogen industry
The creation of the national demonstration bases is not merely a recognition of individual technological strength; it is a vital instrument for using leading enterprises to spur regional industrial cluster development. For the three selected hydrogen companies, the creation period represents a critical window for capability upgrading. They must continuously refine product performance, scale up industrialization efforts, and deliver more engineering demonstration projects to accumulate stable and promotable industry know-how.
Looking ahead, as a batch of demonstration entities completes its acceptance reviews, the technical achievements and industrialization insights from the clean hydrogen sector will be exported outward, attracting more supporting companies into the supply chain. Leveraging the demonstrative power of these bases, China's hydrogen industry will accelerate efforts to shore up weak links, enhance industrial autonomy, and steadily promote the large-scale application of clean low-carbon hydrogen across transportation, chemicals, and energy sectors.
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