Page 7 - AsiaElec Week 13 2021
P. 7
AsiaElec COMMENTARY AsiaElec
In order to meet hydrogen demand, CNPC
announced on March 16 the start-up of its first expansion of renewable energy capacity.
ever refuelling station, located in Hebei Prov- It has, therefore, sought to target opportu-
ince, which will be the first of a planned network nities in the petrochemical space while billing
of 50 such facilities. itself as a reliable hydrocarbons supplier capable
The country’s installation of renewable of supporting the country as it transitions away
power capacity, meanwhile, continues to race from oil and gas.
ahead of an anticipated surge in power demand Aramco will also be eager to further develop
driven by the swelling number of new EVs on its blue ammonia and hydrogen capacity, after
the road. having become the first company to successfully
The National Energy Administration (NEA) produce and ship the fuel in September 2020.
announced in January that 48.2 GW of solar Aramco, in partnership with SABIC and the
had been added to the national total in 2020, Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (IEEJ),
up from 30.1 GW added in 2019 and 44.3 GW shipped 40 tonnes of blue ammonia to Japan for
installed in 2018. The country added 71.67 GW use in zero-carbon power generation.
of wind power capacity in 2020, up from around Hydrogen demand from Asia in general, and
26 GW installed in 2019. China in particular, is widely expected to boom
in the coming years as pressure mounts on gov-
What next ernments to do more to reduce their national
Aramco understands that Chinese oil demand carbon footprints. And it is just another poten-
is set to dwindle in line with the Asian coun- tial growth sector Aramco stands to capitalise
try’s pursuit of carbon emission curbs and an upon.
Week 13 31•March•2021 www. NEWSBASE .com P7
