China: the 'hydrogen and fuel cells' program - Hydrogen memento, fact sheet 8.6

With its billion inhabitants, very rapid growth and poor environmental record (six of the world's 10 most polluted cities are Chinese) due to the intensive use of coal, China realized some time ago that it needed to take action to combat its climate and energy consequences. A number of programs aimed at developing new energy technologies have been set up by the Energy Research Institute of the NDRC (National Development and Reform Commission) as part of its successive five-year plans (currently the eleventh, covering the period 2006 - 2010). One of these programs concerns hydrogen and fuel cells. Of all the possible applications for hydrogen and fuel cells, the Chinese authorities (via the MoST, Ministry of Science and Technology) have decided to focus on transport (individual and collective). The transport sector currently accounts for 74% of hydrogen and fuel cell investments in China