Media Release (Translated)
Climate Bonds signs MoU with China Hydrogen Alliance
March 28th, Beijing: The Hydrogen Alliance Research Institute (CHA) and the Climate Bonds Initiative announce today that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support credible and ambitious standards for the low-carbon hydrogen sector in China.
Under the MoU, Climate Bonds and CHA will work together on the following activities:
- Supporting hydrogen related climate bonds standard, promoting the standard and encouraging certification in hydrogen and relevant sectors
- Deepening cooperation in research and capacity building in the field of sustainable finance and hydrogen
- Jointly support the financing and implementation of high-quality low-carbon hydrogen projects in China
Formally registered and established in October 2020, China Hydrogen Alliance Research Institute (CHA) is an alliance of more than 200 members and former professional hydrogen energy developing platforms afflicated to the State entreprises such as China Energy Investment Group(CEIC), China State Shipbuilding Cooperation(CSSC), China National Aviation Holding Company (CNAH), China Iron and Steel Research Institute Group (CISRI) and China GRINM Group. CHA has a mandate of and is committed to becoming a high-level cooperation platform to promote interdisipline, cross-industry and cross-departmental collaboration to develop China's hydrogen energy and fuel cell industry.
Founded in 2009, Climate Bonds Initiative (Climate Bonds) is an international non-profit organization dedicated to mobilizing global capital to combat climate change. Climate Bonds has played a central role in transforming the green bond market from a niche concept to a mainstream source of capital for sustainable development, driving quality of issuance through the development of science-based green definitions in line with the Paris Agreement. Climate Bonds joined the China Hydrogen Alliance as the first foreign NGO in 2021.
Hydrogen is an efficient, zero-emission clean energy source. Hydrogen energy can be transformed and utilized in many industries such as fuel cells in transportation or feedstock in shipping and aviation. At the same time, low-carbon hydrogen can help decarbonize heavy industries. For example, the use of hydrogen in steel production has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in processes by 98%, and in cement production, it can help reduce emissions by almost a third.
From 2020 to 2050, global investment in hydrogen is expected to reach $15 trillion. The Climate Bonds hydrogen production criteria were launched in November 2022 using an emissions intensity approach to define low-carbon hydrogen. Because of the low volumetric energy density of hydrogen at ambient conditions, Climate Bonds expanded the criteria to certify hydrogen delivery projects in August 2023 to ensure the entire hydrogen value chain meets strict low-carbon standards.
As a member of hydrogen Industry Working Group (IWG), China Hydrogen Alliance is deeply involved in the formulation and update of the hydrogen standards.
China is the world's largest hydrogen producer, and the government has included hydrogen as a key energy in green energy development. According to a scenario analysis study conducted by the China Hydrogen Alliance, hydrogen produced by electrolysis from renewable energy sources could meet most of China's hydrogen demand by 2060. In March 2022, the Chinese government issued the Medium and Long-Term Plan for the Development of the Hydrogen Energy Industry (2021-2035), positioning hydrogen energy as an important part of the national energy system.
Sean Kidney, Co-Founder and CEO of the Climate Bonds Initiative, said:
“Hydrogen plays a key role in the low-carbon transition of the global and Chinese economies. By setting low-carbon financing standards for hydrogen projects and high-emitting sectors such as steel, the CBI provides clear guidance to investors seeking to invest in a credible transition, as well as best practices for companies aspiring to decarbonize their sectors. We look forward to working with the China Hydrogen Alliance Research Institute to promote the contribution of hydrogen energy to the global green energy transition, set the standard for sustainable practices in the hydrogen value chain, and promote the further integration of Chinese and foreign capital markets.”
Xiao Chenjiang, Assistant General Manager of China Hydrogen Alliance Research Institute, said:
"The signing of MoU summs up the long-term exchanges and cooperation between the China Hydrogen Alliance Research Institute and Climate Bonds. It is an important symbol of deepening cooperation between two leading organisations in their respective fields. The China Hydrogen Alliance Research Institute will continue to strengthen cooperation with Climate Bonds to jointly promote the green and low-carbon development of hydrogen energy and related industries. ”
新闻稿：气候债券倡议组织与中国氢能联盟研究院开启战略合作
北京，2024年3月27日 气候债券倡议组织（CBI）与中国氢能联盟研究院今日宣布达成战略合作，并签署了谅解备忘录(MoU)。根据合作协议，双方将优化氢能相关的气候债券标准、在可持续金融和氢能领域的研究以及能力建设方面加深合作，并将共同支持高质量的低碳氢能项目融资和落地，助力实现中国的双碳目标 。
中国氢能联盟研究院（北京国氢中联氢能科技研究院有限公司）是由国家能源集团联合中国船舶、中国航天、中国钢研、中国有研等单位所属专业化氢能平台于2020年10月注册设立。研究院定位为打造国家级氢能创新平台，依托中国氢能联盟200多家成员单位，致力于成为推动中国氢能源及燃料电池产业实现跨学科、跨行业、跨部门协同创新、资源整合、推广应用、交流宣传的高端合作平台。
气候债券倡议组织(CBI)成立于2009年，是一个致力于调动全球资本以应对气候变化的国际非营利机构。CBI努力推动开发一个规模大、流动性强的绿色和气候相关债券市场，降低在发达国家和新兴市场国家的气候项目融资成本。成立至今，CBI已发展成为一个全球性的权威机构，通过为银行、项目开发机构和政府提供获得债券市场资本支持的政策和机制支持，为投资者提供理解气候变化投资机遇的工具，促进气候变化投资决策，推动气候变化相关投资的资金成本的降低。2021年， CBI加入中国氢能联盟。
氢能是高效、零排放的清洁能源载体。氢能可用于工业中的燃料和原料、交通运输中的燃料电池、航运和航空的燃料等。同时，低碳氢气的使用能帮助重工业减排。例如，在钢铁生产中使用氢气有潜力减少流程中98%的温室气体排放，而在水泥生产中，能帮助减排接近三分之一。
从2020年到2050年，全球的氢气投资总额预计将达到15万亿美元。CBI在2022年公布了气候债券标准中的氢能生产认证标准范围，从制氢时的碳排放强度来定义绿氢。在2023年，CBI将氢能的运输也列入了认证范围，旨在确保氢全价值链符合严格的低碳标准。中国氢能联盟作为行业工作组（IWG）成员，深度参与了标准的制定和完善。
中国是世界上最大的制氢国，政府已将氢能列入关键发展领域。根据中国氢能联盟开展的情景分析研究，到2060年，可再生能源电解产生的氢气可满足中国大部分氢气需求。2022年3月，中国政府发布了《氢能产业发展中长期规划（2021-2035年）》，将氢能定位为国家能源系统的重要部分。
气候债券倡议组织（CBI）联合创始人兼首席执行官Sean Kidney表示：
“氢能对于全球和中国经济的低碳转型进程发挥关键作用。通过为氢气项目以及钢铁等高排放行业制定低碳融资标准，CBI向寻求投资可信的转型的投资者提供了清晰指引，也向有志于行业脱碳的企业展示最佳实践。 我们期待与中国氢能联盟研究院携手，推动氢能在全球绿色能源转型中的贡献，为氢能价值链上的可持续实践树立标准，促进中外资本市场的进一步对接整合。 ”
中国氢能联盟研究院总经理助理肖晨江表示：
“本次签约是中国氢能联盟研究院和CBI长期交流和合作的系统总结，也是中国氢能联盟研究院和CBI作为各自领域的权威机构深化合作的重要标志。以本次签约为契机，中国氢能联盟研究院将继续强化与CBI的合作，共同推进氢能及相关产业的绿色低碳发展。”