Shandong province launched its first hydrogen-powered intercity vehicle network at the end of last month as 170 cold-chain and slag trucks took to the roads.

The vehicles traveled between the eastern city of Qingdao and Linyi city in the west, and are expected to help reduce the province's overall carbon dioxide emissions by 20,000 metric tons a year, according to the operating team at the Qingdao International Academician Park.

Located in Qingdao's Licang district, the QIAP invites high-end talent from around the world to carry out cutting-edge scientific research, including hydrogen-oriented projects and startups, and helps find commercial applications for their research.

One startup incubated at QIAP, the Qingdao Dexian New Energy Automobile Manufacturing, is involved in the manufacture of hydrogen-powered vehicles. According to Cao Bin, the company's general manager, their hydrogen-powered logistics vehicle has a range of up to 450 kilometers and can be filled up in five minutes. "Hydrogen-powered vehicles are quick to refuel, and their high-density energy source is suitable for long-distance transportation," he said.

"They perform better than electric vehicles in terms of charging speed and battery life."

In order to boost the hydrogen sector, the QIAP has established an innovation center in partnership with renowned domestic universities, including Tongji, Tsinghua, Jilin and Hunan. The aim is to build a top-notch research and development center to encourage the application of advances in science and technology.

Currently, the production of hydrogen fuel, hydrogen-powered battery systems and catalysts can be done on site.

The QIAP is poised to put 2,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles on the road within three years in a bid to develop an e-commerce logistics network that will radiate out 600 kilometers from Linyi, and serve a population of 400 million.

The development of hydrogen-powered vehicles is being undertaken as a scientific and technological demonstration project but ultimately aims to encourage the use of hydrogen in the transportation sector and for industrial and public use.

Such a result would represent a major step toward reducing the province's carbon dioxide emissions.

According to data, Shandong faces a challenge in that regard. It was responsible for a total of 950 million tons of carbon dioxide in 2019, the highest figure among the country's provincial-level areas.

"Shandong is a major center for the chemical industry and already produces 2.6 million tons of hydrogen every year, mostly as a byproduct," said Zhao Nannan, an official in charge of new and renewable energy at the province's Energy Administration. She added that the wide-scale use of hydrogen would be an advantage for the province financially.

Zhao said that Shandong has the country's largest photovoltaic power facility and fourth-largest wind power capacity, and accelerated efforts are being made to develop nuclear power, all activities conducive to eco-friendly hydrogen production. The development of the hydrogen sector will help the province considerably as it reshuffles its industrial structure and seeks new avenues of growth, Zhao added.