China's First High-Pressure, Long-Distance Green Hydrogen Pipeline Nears Commissioning

Construction is nearing completion on China’s first high-pressure, long-distance green hydrogen pipeline, designed by CPECC North China Branch. The project is expected to establish a new low-carbon energy corridor linking hydrogen production bases with industrial demand centers in Baotou, Inner Mongolia.

Stretching 195 kilometers, the Da Mao Banner–Baotou Hydrogen Transmission Pipeline is a core project under the first batch of hydrogen energy pilot projects launched by China’s National Energy Administration.

The pipeline starts at the Barun Industrial Park in the Bayan Obo mining area on the northern foothills of the Yinshan Mountains. It runs southward through five counties and districts before reaching the terminal station in Kundulun District, Baotou. Once completed, the pipeline will connect wind- and solar-powered hydrogen production bases with major industrial areas in the city, helping meet Baotou’s industrial demand for green hydrogen. It is also expected to support the supply of green hydrogen to key regions including the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, Shaanxi, Ningxia and Liaoning.

High-pressure pure-hydrogen pipelines face significant technical challenges related to hydrogen embrittlement. To address this issue, CPECC North China Branch worked with research institutes and pipe manufacturers to develop dedicated technical specifications for L360MH-grade steel.

The project team introduced rare-earth elements to improve the steel’s resistance to hydrogen embrittlement and enhance its toughness. It also established a comprehensive safety evaluation system covering hydrogen-embrittlement susceptibility, fracture toughness and fatigue crack growth rate. Extensive technical studies and validation have been carried out to balance safety, long-term operational reliability and economic viability.

The project represents an integrated engineering effort spanning research and development, technical standard setting, pipe-material innovation and safety-oriented design. The experience gained is expected to provide a replicable model for the development of large-scale hydrogen transportation infrastructure in China.

Construction is progressing across both mountainous and plain areas. The mainline is largely complete, with final construction work underway in mountainous sections. Pipeline pigging and pressure testing have begun on sections across the plains, while civil works and equipment installation are progressing simultaneously at supporting stations.

Project participants are now focusing on quality control, construction schedules and key milestones as they work toward commissioning. Once operational, the pipeline will provide infrastructure support for the large-scale, standardized and safe transportation of green hydrogen over long distances.