The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and two other departments issued the "Administrative Measures for the Pilot Work of Comprehensive Hydrogen Energy Applications"

Title context: The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and two other departments issued the "Administrative Measures for the Pilot Work of Comprehensive Hydrogen Energy Applications" Text: Recently, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Finance, and the National Development and Reform Commission jointly issued the "Administrative Measures for the Pilot Work of Comprehensive Hydrogen Energy Applications," effective as of the date of issuance. The "Administrative Measures" propose that city clusters should, in accordance with the approved pilot work plans, coordinate the advancement of pilot work and efficiently organize the implementation of four task lists: breakthroughs in hydrogen energy technology and equipment, hydrogen energy projects in the industrial sector, promotion of fuel cell vehicles, and construction of hydrogen refueling stations. To implement the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, drive cost reduction through large-scale application in multiple scenarios, and support innovative breakthroughs in hydrogen energy technology and equipment, the three departments issued in August this year the "Notice on Approving Five City Clusters Including Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei to Carry Out Pilot Work on Comprehensive Hydrogen Energy Applications," in principle approving the pilot work plans of five city clustersBeijing-Tianjin-Hebei, the Greater Bay Area, Northeast China (including eastern Inner Mongolia)Yangtze River Delta, XinjiangChengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle, and the Yellow River Jizi BendCentral Plainsto carry out pilot work on comprehensive hydrogen energy applications for a pilot period of four years. The "Administrative Measures" apply to the organization and implementation, assessment and evaluation, point accounting, and fund and project supervision and management activities of the comprehensive hydrogen energy application pilot, aiming to strengthen the management of the pilot work and improve the efficiency of fiscal fund use. Next, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology will, together with relevant departments, carry out process guidance for the pilot, performance evaluation of central fiscal reward funds, supervise city clusters in properly conducting pilot organization and implementation, fund and project supervision and management, and regularly organize summaries of pilot work results and promote pilot experience. The full text is as follows: Administrative Measures for the Pilot Work of Comprehensive Hydrogen Energy Applications Chapter I General Provisions Article 1 To strengthen the management of the pilot work of comprehensive hydrogen energy applications and improve the efficiency of fiscal fund use, these Measures are formulated in accordance with relevant laws and regulations and the relevant provisions of policy documents such as the "Notice of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Finance, and the National Development and Reform Commission on Carrying Out Pilot Work on Comprehensive Hydrogen Energy Applications" (MIIT Joint Energy Conservation [2026] No. 59) (hereinafter referred to as the "Notice"). Article 2 These Measures apply to the organization and implementation, assessment and evaluation, point accounting, and fund and project supervision and management activities of the pilot work of comprehensive hydrogen energy applications. Article 3 The pilot work of comprehensive hydrogen energy applications shall be jointly organized and implemented by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Finance, and the National Development and Reform Commission (hereinafter collectively referred to as the three departments). The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology shall be responsible for organizing city cluster assessment and evaluation, reward point accounting, fund application, and other work, proposing annual fund allocation suggestions and performance targets; together with relevant departments, carrying out process guidance for the pilot, performance evaluation of central fiscal reward funds, and supervising city clusters in properly conducting pilot organization and implementation, fund and project supervision and management; and, together with the Ministry of Finance and the National Development and Reform Commission, regularly organizing summaries of pilot work results and promoting pilot experience. The Ministry of Finance shall, based on the annual fund arrangement suggestions proposed by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, issue the central fiscal reward fund budget, and the annual performance target table shall be issued together with the fund budget document. The provincial industry and information technology, finance, and development and reform departments of the locations of the pilot cities (hereinafter collectively referred to as provincial competent departments) shall be responsible for properly conducting pilot organization and coordination, proposing internal supervision and assessment systems and penalty measures for city clusters, creating a favorable policy and institutional environment, and supervising the effective implementation of pilot work. Article 4 The lead city of each city cluster shall be responsible for coordinating the advancement of all pilot work within the city cluster, regularly coordinating and summarizing pilot work, and compiling a self-assessment report for the city cluster. The primary responsible cities shall be responsible for advancing the pilot tasks under their charge and cooperating with the lead city in pilot coordination and summary work. Cities participating in pilot tasks shall be responsible for efficiently advancing the relevant pilot tasks. Chapter II Organization and Implementation Article 5 City clusters shall, in accordance with the pilot work plans approved by the three departments, coordinate the advancement of pilot work. Article 6 The pilot work plans approved by the three departments may not be changed without authorization. Where changes are truly necessary, the lead city shall submit a change application, which, after approval by the provincial competent department of the location of the lead city, shall be reported to the three departments for review and determination. The change application shall elaborate in detail the reasons for and necessity of the change. Article 7 City clusters shall efficiently organize the implementation of four task lists: breakthroughs in hydrogen energy technology and equipment, hydrogen energy projects in the industrial sector, promotion of fuel cell vehicles, and construction of hydrogen refueling stations. Article 8 City clusters shall increase support for the research and development and application of advanced technologies, promote innovative breakthroughs in hydrogen energy application technologies, processes, and equipment, and achieve iterative upgrades of fuel cells, electrolyzers, storage and transportation devices and materials, and other areas. Article 9 City clusters shall organize the connection of comprehensive hydrogen energy application products, equipment, projects, and other items within the city clustersuch as fuel cell vehicles, green ammonia and methanol, substitution of hydrogen-based chemical raw materials, hydrogen metallurgy, hydrogen blending combustion, and innovative application scenariosto the Comprehensive Hydrogen Energy Application Pilot Management Service Platform (hereinafter referred to as the "Management Service Platform"), and upload relevant basic information and operational data in accordance with corresponding specifications. The uploaded content includes operational data such as vehicle hydrogen refueling volume, hydrogen consumption of industrial projects, and pure hydrogen driving mileage of vehicles involved in reward fund accounting, as well as test reports corresponding to indicators concerning compliance with technical requirements. Article 10 Each pilot city shall regularly verify the information and data uploaded by enterprises to ensure the completeness, authenticity, and accuracy of the relevant data. Chapter III Assessment and Evaluation Article 11 After the end of each year, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, together with relevant departments, shall conduct assessment and evaluation of the pilot work of each city cluster for the previous year and the pilot work as a whole. The evaluation focuses include the following: (1) The completion status, problems faced, and improvement measures of pilot tasks such as technological equipment breakthroughs, hydrogen energy application projects in the industrial sector, promotion and application of fuel cell vehicles, and construction of hydrogen refueling stations for the city cluster as a whole and for each pilot city; (2) The implementation and execution of safeguard measures such as organization, policies, funds, safety, and emergency response promoted by the city cluster for carrying out pilot work, as well as the management of reward funds; (3) The economic, social, and ecological benefits generated by the pilot work of the city cluster; (4) Other circumstances requiring evaluation. Article 12 The lead city of each city cluster shall, within 30 days after the end of each year, organize all pilot cities within the city cluster to compile self-assessment reports as required (see Annex 1 for details) and submit them to the three departments. Where multiple primary responsible cities are involved, each primary responsible city shall coordinate with relevant pilot participating cities to jointly review the completion status of the corresponding primary responsibility tasks and summarize them to the lead city. Article 13 The self-assessment report of each city cluster shall, after approval by the provincial competent department of the location of the lead city, be submitted to the three departments through the Management Service Platform. Article 14 Each pilot city bears primary responsibility for the completeness, authenticity, and accuracy of the content of the self-assessment report it submits. Article 15 The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, together with relevant departments, shall entrust third-party institutions to conduct assessment and evaluation of the completion of city cluster task objectives through document review, on-site inspection, expert review, and other methods, combined with data from the relevant Management Service Platform, and issue city cluster assessment and evaluation reports. Article 16 Assessment and evaluation may, according to the progress of pilot work, be divided into three categories: annual evaluation, mid-term evaluation, and acceptance evaluation. Article 17 The assessment and evaluation results shall be quantified into a comprehensive score in accordance with relevant standards (see Annex 2 for details). Where the comprehensive score of a city cluster is below 60 points, the city cluster shall be deemed to have failed the assessment and evaluation. Chapter IV Point Accounting Article 18 After the end of each year, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, together with relevant departments, shall entrust third-party institutions to organize experts, in accordance with the relevant point accounting standards and requirements, to carry out accounting of the corresponding annual reward points for city clusters and form a reward point verification table for each city cluster. Article 19 For fuel cell vehicle scenarios, vehicle promotion points shall be calculated based on the number of vehicles promoted and applied in the city cluster and relevant information, with reference to the fuel cell standard vehicle conversion method, standard vehicle reward point standards, corresponding vehicle reward coefficients, and other factors. Hydrogen supply points shall be calculated based on the actual refueling volume of clean, low-carbon hydrogen for vehicles, the type of hydrogen, the location of hydrogen refueling stations, and other factors. Article 20 For green ammonia and methanol, substitution of hydrogen-based chemical raw materials, hydrogen metallurgy, and hydrogen blending combustion scenarios, reward points shall be calculated based on the scale of clean, low-carbon hydrogen application. Hydrogen consumption shall correspond to the actual sales of downstream products. For downstream products for which only production has been completed but no actual sales have occurred, the corresponding hydrogen consumption shall not be counted; accounting may be applied for after actual sales are completed. Article 21 For innovative application scenarios such as hydrogen-powered rail locomotives, ships, mining trucks, forklifts, two-wheeled vehicles, aircraft, backup power supplies, combined heat and power supply, and hydrogen energy storage power generation, reward points shall be calculated based on the number of products promoted and applied and the rated power of fuel cell systems (or hydrogen internal combustion engines, hydrogen turbines, etc.). For scenarios such as electronics and pharmaceuticals, reward points shall be calculated based on the scale of renewable hydrogen production application; hydrogen consumption shall correspond to the actual sales of end products. Article 22 For fuel cell vehicles, green ammonia and methanol, substitution of hydrogen-based chemical raw materials, hydrogen metallurgy, hydrogen blending combustion, and end product applications or hydrogen use scale in innovative application scenarios declared by city clusters for reward points, the corresponding end products and projects shall comply with the relevant technical requirements of the "Notice," and the relevant products shall all be required to be produced, sold, and used domestically; those that do not comply shall not be counted for reward points. Article 23 Where the annual vehicle promotion, hydrogen use scale, and other indicators of a city cluster exceed the plan for the year in the pilot work plan, the excess portion may be counted in the following year. Chapter V Fund Management Article 24 The central finance shall allocate reward funds by the method of "advance allocation first, settlement later." After a city cluster obtains approval, the central finance shall advance a certain proportion of reward funds to each city cluster to support the city cluster in launching the pilot work of comprehensive hydrogen energy applications. Article 25 After the end of each year, the three departments shall, based on the assessment and evaluation and the verification results of reward points, confirm the reward fund amount for each city cluster. For city clusters that fail the assessment and evaluation, the allocation of reward funds for the current year shall be suspended; for city clusters that pass the assessment and evaluation but have not completed all annual pilot tasks, a certain proportion of reward funds shall be reduced as appropriate. Article 26 After the pilot ends, the three departments shall, in accordance with the principle of refunding more and supplementing less, settle the reward funds of city clusters. The cumulative central fiscal reward funds obtained by a city cluster during the pilot implementation period shall not exceed the upper limit of 1.6 billion yuan. (1) Where funds need to be reduced because pilot tasks are not completed, the difference between the funds already allocated and the funds that should be obtained shall be returned; (2) Funds that were reduced or suspended in the first three years due to slow progress may, in light of the acceptance results, be supplemented as appropriate; (3) Where the acceptance evaluation is unqualified, the reward funds for the fourth year shall not be allocated, and some or all of the funds already allocated shall, as appropriate, be ordered to be returned. Article 27 Reward funds shall be used by city clusters, in conjunction with their work plans, to carry out the pilot work of comprehensive hydrogen energy applications. Each city cluster shall give full play to the effectiveness of reward funds, reduce the cost of hydrogen use, and effectively transmit this to the end-product consumption segment. Article 28 Before the allocation of advance funds and annual reward funds, city clusters shall compile reward fund application documents, specify the reward fund allocation plan for each pilot city, simultaneously compile performance targets (see Annex 3 for details), and submit them to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology as required. The fund allocation plan shall, in principle, be proposed by the lead city, shall objectively and truthfully reflect the task completion status of each pilot city during the pilot process, and shall effectively give play to the supporting and guiding role of central fiscal funds and improve the efficiency of fund use. Article 29 After the central fiscal reward funds are issued, city clusters shall allocate the funds to relevant participating entities as soon as possible. Local self-raised funds shall be linked with central fiscal funds and allocated together with central fiscal funds. Each pilot city and the provincial competent department of its location shall properly supervise fund allocation, formulate reward fund allocation plans and management rules in light of the actual situation of the region, specify the reward fund allocation method, support standards, and the use method of local self-raised funds, and file them with the three departments for record through upload to the Management Service Platform. Article 30 Where pilot cities and the provincial competent departments of their locations fail to allocate central reward funds and local self-raised funds in a timely manner, the suspension of further allocation of reward funds to the corresponding city cluster or pilot city shall be studied as appropriate; after funds at all levels are allocated in place, the three departments shall, as appropriate, study subsequent reward fund allocation plans. Article 31 City clusters shall use central fiscal funds in accordance with relevant budget management provisions, ensure that reward funds are used exclusively for designated purposes and under special management, and, in accordance with relevant document requirements, properly conduct performance self-evaluation of transfer payment funds, focusing on evaluating the execution of reward funds and the completion of performance targets, so as to improve the efficiency of fund use. Article 32 Reward funds shall not be used to balance budgets, repay government debt, or clear arrears owed to enterprises. Projects or products in the hydrogen energy application segment that have already received support from ultra-long-term special government bonds, central budget investment, government special bonds, or other funds shall not be included in the scope of support from the reward funds of this pilot. Article 33 Each city cluster shall establish a ledger of reward fund execution, evaluate fund use annually against performance targets, promptly summarize and analyze existing problems and causes, incorporate the relevant content into the self-assessment report, and submit it to the three departments. Article 34 Relevant departments at all local levels shall strengthen supervision and management of reward funds and shall not intercept or misappropriate reward funds. If problems such as false fund applications, misappropriation, duplicate applications, or fraudulent reimbursement are discovered, they shall promptly report them to the three departments. Chapter VI Project Supervision Article 35 The three departments shall strengthen supervision and management of projects related to the pilot work of comprehensive hydrogen energy applications and provide technical support for pilot cities in project construction, management, evaluation, and other aspects. Article 36 The three departments shall entrust third-party institutions to carry out pilot progress tracking and routine management, focusing on supervising the construction and commissioning progress of industrial projects, establishing a project progress notification mechanism, and issuing notifications for projects whose progress falls short of expectations. Article 37 The three departments shall establish a dynamic adjustment mechanism for city clusters. For those that fail the mid-term evaluation or fail the evaluation for two consecutive years, the following measures shall be taken as appropriate: (1) Require adjustment of the work plan; (2) Deduct or suspend the allocation of reward funds; (3) Suspend or even cancel qualification to participate in the city pilot. Article 38 Where the lead city of a city cluster is unable to submit materials such as the city cluster self-assessment report, reward fund allocation plan, and performance targets on time, other primary responsible cities within the city cluster may separately submit materials related to the pilot tasks they are responsible for advancing and explain the situation in detail. Article 39 Where a city cluster falls under any of the following circumstances, the three departments shall, in light of the specific situation, make corresponding handling such as circulating a notice of criticism, requiring adjustment of the pilot work plan, deducting reward points, deducting or suspending the allocation of reward funds, or suspending or even canceling qualification to participate in the city pilot: (1) Failing the mid-term evaluation or failing the evaluation for two consecutive years; (2) Engaging in fraud, violating provisions, or submitting seriously false materials; (3) Providing insufficient supporting materials such that the progress of pilot work and the use of reward funds cannot be judged; (4) Setting or disguisedly setting obstacles to restrict the procurement or sale of equipment, raw materials, products, and other items from outside the city cluster; (5) Pilot work progress being seriously delayed, making it impossible to complete tasks, or falling far short of pilot objectives; (6) Misappropriating or occupying central fiscal funds, or repeatedly applying for central fiscal fund support, or using reward funds in areas where use is prohibited under these Measures; (7) Occurrence of relatively major or greater production safety accidents, sudden environmental incidents, environmental pollution accidents, or ecological damage incidents. Article 40 Where local governments and relevant departments violate these Measures in fund allocation, issuance, management, and other work, or commit other illegal or irregular acts such as abuse of power, dereliction of duty, or favoritism and malpractice, corresponding liability shall be pursued in accordance with law. Where a crime is constituted, criminal liability shall be pursued in accordance with law. Where illegal or irregular acts are committed in the process of fund application or use, corresponding liability shall be pursued in accordance with relevant state provisions such as the Budget Law of the People's Republic of China and its implementing regulations and the Regulations on Penalties and Sanctions for Fiscal Violations. Where a crime is constituted, criminal liability shall be pursued in accordance with law. Chapter VII Supplementary Provisions Article 41 These Measures shall be interpreted by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology in consultation with the Ministry of Finance and the National Development and Reform Commission, and shall be optimized and adjusted according to the actual situation of city cluster pilot work. Article 42 The term "city cluster" as used in these Measures refers to city clusters that have obtained approval from the three departments to implement the pilot work plan for comprehensive hydrogen energy applications. Article 43 The pilot implementation period referred to in these Measures shall be counted from the date of approval of the city cluster and shall last for four years. Article 44 The meanings of the following terms used in these Measures are as follows: (1) Renewable hydrogen production (also called "green hydrogen") refers to hydrogen produced directly mainly using renewable energy such as photovoltaics and wind power. Industrial by-product hydrogen mainly includes hydrogen produced from coke oven gas, industrial by-product hydrogen from chlor-alkali tail gas, by-product hydrogen from propane dehydrogenation, and by-product hydrogen from ethane cracking dehydrogenation; (2) Document review refers to reviewing the self-assessment reports and relevant test reports, supporting materials, and other documents provided by each city cluster; (3) On-site inspection refers to selecting some products, equipment, or projects in fuel cell vehicles, green ammonia and methanol, substitution of hydrogen-based chemical raw materials, hydrogen metallurgy, hydrogen blending combustion, and innovative application scenarios in each city cluster and conducting on-site inspections of their production and operation, promotion and application, technical indicators, and other aspects; (4) Annual evaluation refers to the annual assessment conducted after the end of each year on the pilot work carried out by the city cluster in that year; (5) Mid-term evaluation refers to the phased summary assessment conducted after the end of the second year on the pilot work carried out by the city cluster in the first two years; (6) Acceptance evaluation refers to the overall assessment conducted after the end of the fourth year on the four-year pilot work carried out by the city cluster. Article 45 The "days" stipulated in these Measures are all calendar days. Article 46 These Measures shall come into effect as of the date of issuance. This article is edited from the official website of the "Ministry of Industry and Information Technology"; GMTEight editor: Jiang Yuanhua.