China's first factory-based seawater hydrogen production research project was completed in Qingdao of East China's Shandong province on Dec 18, according to its operator China Petroleum & Chemical Corp.

The project, combining direct seawater hydrogen production with green electricity, is capable of producing 20 cubic meters of green hydrogen per hour, the company said.

It provides a new solution for utilizing renewable energy in coastal areas while offering a pathway for recycling high-salinity industrial wastewater, Sinopec said, the company involved in the project.

The project uses green electricity generated by a floating photovoltaic power station of the company's Qingdao refinery to electrolyze seawater into hydrogen and oxygen. The produced hydrogen is integrated into the Qingdao refinery's pipeline network for refining operations or fueling hydrogen-powered vehicles, with the entire production process carried out within the factory, according to the company.

Green hydrogen, produced using renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power, is believed to generate minimal greenhouse gas emissions during production.