Beijing throws light on hydrogen with Winter Olympics plan

Organisers of huge event set to light torch with hydrogen to highlight emissions-reduction drive

On the cards: the Winter Olympics are set to take place in Shanghai next year
On the cards: the Winter Olympics are set to take place in Shanghai next yearPhoto: AP/SCANPIX

China is taking its energy transition drive to a whole new level with authorities deciding to light the torch for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics with hydrogen.

The move by the Beijing Organizing Committee for the games — due to take place between 4 and 20 February next year — is intended to be symbolic of the country's drive to lower carbon emissions, with the same being done at the Paralympic Winter Games in the capital.

The Beijing municipal government will also build two hydrogen refueling stations and operate hydrogen-powered buses — also known as fuel cell electric vehicles — in the city’s suburbs.

The hydrogen will be supplied by state-controlled oil giant Sinopec, which is building a hydrogen processing unit at its Yanshan petrochemicals complex in Beijing.

The facility will have production capacity of 2000 cubic metres per hour of hydrogen gas.

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Published 9 February 2021, 06:53Updated 9 February 2021, 11:38
ChinaWinter Olympic Games 2022Asia & OceaniaEast Asia