To promote local clean hydrogen production and application in developing countries and transition economies, and to facilitate a just industrial transition in these regions, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the International Hydrogen Fuel Cell Association (IHFCA) have jointly launched the Technical Guidelines for the Development of Hydrogen Energy Storage project.
The project kick-off meeting was organized by the IHFCA and held in Beijing on December 23, 2025. The meeting was attended by key stakeholders and experts, including Liu Heng, Senior Technical Advisor at the UNIDO Energy Department; Professor Zhang Cunman of Tongji University; Professor Liu Jianguo of North China Electric Power University; Wang Pengfei, Associate Researcher at SINOPEC Research Institute of Petroleum Processing Co., Ltd; and representatives from SHPT Co., Ltd and Wuhan University of Technology.
During the meeting, participants engaged in in-depth exchanges regarding the current state of hydrogen energy storage technology and the progress of related standardization work. The attendees expressed a shared commitment to ensuring that the technical documents produced by this project serve as powerful tools to assist developing countries in the rapid deployment of hydrogen energy technologies.
The IHFCA organizes the launch meeting for the Technical Guidelines for the Development of Hydrogen Energy Storage project
Against the backdrop of Carbon Neutrality goals and the construction of new power systems dominated by renewable energy, hydrogen energy storage has demonstrated irreplaceable strategic value. Compared to other energy storage methods, hydrogen storage offers significant technical advantages, including large capacity, long-duration storage, minimal degradation, and flexible application scenarios. Hydrogen storage serves not only as an ideal solution for addressing the volatility and intermittency of renewable energy but also as a critical pathway for achieving large-scale, deep decarbonization in the transportation and industrial sectors.
As a novel energy storage technology, hydrogen acts as a stabilizer within the energy system. It effectively improves the absorption capability of renewable energy, significantly reduces wind and solar curtailment rates, and enhances grid output stability. Through conversion pathways— Power – Hydrogen – Power in the specific sense, or the Power – Hydrogen – X in the general sense, hydrogen storage provides solid technical support for building a clean, low-carbon, safe, and efficient energy system, making it a considerable component of energy security.
To address the technical complexities and cross-disciplinary challenges currently facing the global hydrogen storage sector, the Technical Guidelines for the Development of Hydrogen Energy Storage project will develop a set of comprehensive technical documents with broad, universal applicability.
Liu Heng, Senior Technical Advisor at the UNIDO Energy Department, delivers a speech at the meeting
As the primary responsible party for the technical research of this project, the IHFCA will fully initiate the compilation and promotion of the guidelines. Leveraging its international platform, the Association will unite top research institutions, leading enterprises, and industry associations from the global hydrogen sector to rapidly establish an interdisciplinary, cross-border Expert Working Group on Technical Guidelines for the Development of Hydrogen Energy Storage. Upholding principles of scientific rigor, open cooperation, and industry consensus, the IHFCA will systematically advance the drafting and technical verification of the guidelines within the project timeframe.