In the context of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality strategy and the enlarging hydrogen energy industry locally and in China, the Hydrogen Energy Equipment and Safety Technology Engineering Center of Zhejiang Province was established in August 2022, with the approval of the Zhejiang Provincial Development and Reform Commission. Three institutions have engaged in its establishment, which are Zhejiang University Hydrogen Energy Institute (Hydrogen ZJU), the Baima Lake Laboratory, and Zhejiang Academy of Special Equipment Science.

Per the local development, the engineering center focuses on hydrogen energy industrial chains of green hydrogen production, efficient hydrogen storage and transportation, hydrogen-electric coupling, and hydrogen safety tests and evaluations under extreme conditions. It aims to become a leading innovation platform in vital technology and core equipment research and deployment.

The engineering center has organized a group of more than 50 excellent faculty members and researchers, among whom 90% are seniors in the profession and 50% are professors and researchers. Moreover, many are honored talent and experts in the field, including 1 Chinese Academy of Engineering member and 8 Chang-Jiang Distinguished Scholars and Outstanding Young Talent Scholars. The engineering center appreciates diversity and interdisciplinary research. The expertise of its members ranges over energy engineering, marine science and engineering, chemical and biological engineering, material science and engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, control science and engineering, et al.   

With its leading advantages in hydrogen equipment and safety research, teams at the engineering center have been researching vial technology and core equipment of gaseous hydrogen storage, liquid hydrogen storage and transportation, dense hydrogen storage and transportation, hydrogen refueling station, and safety test and evaluation. So far, they have achieved a series of awards and patents, including 12 national and provincial awards and 74 patents. At the same time, they emphasize industrial application and have deployed more than ten original technologies into relevant industries and produced tremendous economic value.

In the future, the engineering center will make efforts to innovate critical technologies and create vital equipment independently to address specific issues. Meanwhile, it will highlight interdisciplinary research. Ultimately, its outputs expect to promote the local hydrogen energy industrial development.