China’s largest single-unit photovoltaic (PV)-compatible electrolytic hydrogen production system has officially begun full-load operation at Huaneng’s Zhangye Green Power Hydrogen Demonstration Station.
Source: CHINA HUANENG
China’s largest single-unit photovoltaic (PV)-compatible electrolytic hydrogen production system has officially begun full-load operation at Huaneng’s Zhangye Green Power Hydrogen Demonstration Station. The system has also passed third-party verification by TÜV SÜD, marking a significant step forward in Huaneng’s efforts to enhance hydrogen energy storage and support large-scale renewable energy integration. This milestone strengthens the flexibility of China’s new power system, improving its ability to accommodate fluctuating clean energy sources.
Developed and funded by Huaneng Gansu New Energy Company, the project is located in the Circular Economy Demonstration Park in Zhangye’s Economic Development Zone, Gansu Province. It includes an 8 MW photovoltaic power station, with high-purity hydrogen produced on-site and transported off-site via high-pressure tube trailers. The facility integrates the full process of solar power generation, hydrogen production, and hydrogen refueling.
At the heart of the project is a 1,300 Nm³/h electrolyzer developed by Huaneng, designed to handle the variability of renewable energy input. Unlike traditional hydrogen production systems, this high-power dynamic electrolysis system offers faster response times and greater adaptability to fluctuating power sources. It operates within a wide power range of 15% to 120% of rated capacity, with a response rate of 10% per second, and can run stably even at a low load of 20%. The system is supported by an 8.3 MW fully controlled rectifier power supply, featuring a rated current exceeding 30,000 amperes—the largest single-unit IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor) hydrogen production power supply in operation.
Additionally, the project is the first in China’s hydrogen energy sector to incorporate Huaneng’s self-developed Ruiwo system, a fully domestic solution that enhances the safety, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness of large-scale green hydrogen production. Looking ahead, the system will be integrated with an in-house energy management platform to explore direct PV-to-hydrogen operation, setting a new benchmark for flexible hydrogen-electric microgrid coordination.
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