© Air Liquide

Air Liquide has launched China’s first 300-bar hydrogen filling facility in Shanghai, reinforcing the push for decarbonization and clean mobility. The site, operated through the ALSHSN joint venture, positions itself as a key node in the region’s hydrogen supply chain.

With an investment of RMB 180 million, the ALSHSN center—also known as the Shanghai Hydrogen Energy Supply Basin—introduces 300-bar Type II trailers to the Chinese market. These allow a 60% increase in payload compared to conventional 200-bar trailers, cutting logistics costs and transportation emissions. This is expected to support the scaling of hydrogen applications in heavy transport, an area where vehicle range and refueling efficiency are critical.

Daily Output to Support Over 1,000 Trucks

The facility begins with a filling capacity of 12 tonnes per day, enough to refuel more than 1,000 medium- and heavy-duty hydrogen trucks. It will also support 12 refueling stations and serve industrial customers. The center draws on Air Liquide’s subsidiary SCIPIG for hydrogen production, using a CO₂ recycling process, while sourcing biomethane from partner Shenergy to produce renewable hydrogen.

“Today, I’m happy to celebrate the launch of Air Liquide’s new hydrogen filling center in Shanghai, marking a key development in hydrogen energy infrastructure for the Yangtze River Delta region,” said Erwin Penfornis, Group VP of Hydrogen Energy World Business Line at Air Liquide.

Strategic Backing and Regional Integration

The project aligns with Shanghai’s strategy to peak carbon emissions by 2025—five years ahead of the national timeline. The region currently operates 18 hydrogen refueling stations and fields 5,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles. Shanghai’s long-term plan positions hydrogen as central to achieving energy independence and reducing industrial emissions.

“The commissioning of ALSHSN demonstrates Air Liquide’s expertise in building hydrogen infrastructure and reinforces our strong partnerships with local players, in this case Shenergy and SCIP, to drive the energy transition in China,” said Rui Coelho, Air Liquide China CEO.

Shenergy’s Vice President Shi Pingyang emphasized the role of hydrogen in China’s broader climate goals: “By leveraging our diverse industry presence, we will continue to contribute to achieving China’s carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals.”

With support from SINOPEC, PetroChina, and French diplomatic and industry officials, the facility sets a precedent for scalable hydrogen infrastructure in China. It also enhances the Eastern China hydrogen network, offering a replicable model for similar initiatives in other urban-industrial zones.