The European Commission has decided to restrict EU funding—including through the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Investment Fund (EIF)—for solar, wind, and battery energy storage projects utilizing inverters from high-risk countries, namely China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, citing cybersecurity risks. The policy, communicated to financial institutions, took effect on May 1, 2026. While initial media reports highlighted restrictions on photovoltaic solar projects, it is now confirmed that battery energy storage systems (BESS) are also included in the directive. The industry is awaiting the official publication of the new guidelines, as the Commission does not currently plan to issue a public announcement or press release on the matter.

[SMM Hydrogen Energy Brief: Two Group Standards for New Energy Hydrogen Production Officially Released and Implemented] It was learned on April 1 that two group standards in the field of new energy hydrogen production, led and compiled by the Xinjiang Design Branch of the Pipeline Design Institute and jointly co-compiled by 16 industry entities in China, had been officially approved, released, and implemented by the Standardization Working Committee of the China International Association for Promotion of Science and Technology. The two standards released are "Safety Technical Guidelines for Water Electrolysis Hydrogen Production Plants" and "Economic Operation Indicators and Calculation Methods for Water Electrolysis Hydrogen Production Plants," which will provide normative references for safe operations, economic operation, and indicator accounting in the water electrolysis hydrogen production industry.

Futures: Last Friday, LME lead opened at $1,950.5/mt. During the Asian session, LME lead moved sideways within the range of $1,948.5-1,955/mt, touching a low of $1,948.5/mt. Entering the European session, driven by continued inventory drawdowns ex-China, LME lead trended higher, reaching a high of $1,970/mt before pulling back slightly toward the close, ultimately settling at $1,960.5/mt, up 0.67%. Last Friday evening, the most-traded SHFE lead 2606 contract opened higher with a gap at 16,715 yuan/mt. It briefly dipped to 16,695 yuan/mt at the start of the session before rebounding to a high of 16,765 yuan/mt. Gains narrowed slightly toward the close, ultimately settling at 16,755 yuan/mt, up 85 yuan/mt or 0.51%. Open interest stood at 65,139 lots, down 4,365 lots from the previous trading day. Macro: On the macro front: A shooting occurred at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. Trump stated that Iran could call if it wanted to negotiate. Washington D.C. Attorney General Piro announced the suspension of the investigation into Powell. Iran's foreign minister briefly revisited and then departed Pakistan, delivering ceasefire conditions to the Pakistani side. Iran's Deputy Speaker: Mojtaba ordered that the Strait of Hormuz must not return to its pre-war status. Russian President Putin may head to Miami, US, to attend the G20 summit. Azerbaijan sold gold worth $3 billion for the first time. The General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council issued guidelines on strengthening services and management for new employment groups, mentioning enhanced governance of internet platform algorithms. Ministry of Finance: Securities transaction stamp tax revenue grew 78.1% in Q1. The CSRC announced that qualified foreign investors are allowed to participate in treasury bond futures trading. Spot Fundamentals: Last Friday, SHFE lead remained in the doldrums. Suppliers showed reduced willingness to make shipments, with fewer quotations. Meanwhile, premiums for primary lead cargoes self-picked up from production site showed little difference from the previous day. Mainstream production areas quoted at premiums of 0-50 yuan/mt above the SMM #1 lead price on an ex-works basis, while a few regions quoted at premiums of 120-150 yuan/mt. Secondary lead side, smelter maintenance increased and market quotations decreased, with secondary refined lead quoted at parity with the SMM #1 lead average price on an ex-works basis. Downstream enterprises maintained just-in-time procurement with limited inquiries, and spot order market trading activity declined. Inventory: As of April 24, LME lead inventory decreased by 950 mt to 270,025 mt. As of April 23, SMM lead ingot social inventory saw a slight buildup, with total volumes trending upward. Lead Price Forecast for Today: Currently, the lead-acid battery industry off-season continues, with production cuts expanding among downstream factories. Lead ingot procurement demand continued to weaken, driving a gradual social inventory buildup. Supply side, secondary lead enterprises in Anhui, Jiangsu and other regions saw further increases in production cuts, shutdowns, and maintenance, with regional spot supply continuing to shrink. However, last week, the operating rate of secondary lead smelters rebounded somewhat as scrap battery raw material inventory was replenished. Overall, bullish and bearish factors in the market counterbalanced each other, compounded by uncertainties in the macro environment, and lead prices are expected to remain in the doldrums in the short term.

The European Commission has moved to restrict funding for solar projects utilizing inverters from "high-risk vendors" to bolster cybersecurity. Effective immediately, new guidelines require compliance with strict security standards. Pipeline projects have specific transition windows (notification by May 1, 2026), while non-EU-connected projects must phase out high-risk hardware by April 15, 2027. This decision follows growing EU concern regarding over-reliance on limited inverter suppliers and potential security vulnerabilities, echoing recent preventative measures taken by nations including Lithuania and the Netherlands.

Capacity: according to incomplete statistics, China's alkaline electrolyzer market remained at 43.77 GW, the PEM electrolyzer market remained at 2.7 GW, with no new capacity additions for the time being. This week, CPU Hydrogen Power's independently developed 100 Nm³ containerized integrated hydrogen production system completed factory detection and was officially shipped to Sichuan; Trina Green Hydrogen completed the centralized delivery of a batch of 1,000 Nm³/h alkaline hydrogen production equipment, which had arrived at a large-scale green ammonia-methanol project site in China and was about to commence installation; Yigong completed the shipment and delivery of its independently developed and manufactured hydrogen compressor station units. Project-related updates: Jiamusi Hanya New Energy Co., Ltd. : officially signed a memorandum of cooperation in Hefei with Johnson Matthey, a global leader in sustainable technology, and East China Engineering Science and Technology Co., Ltd. The three parties will jointly advance the implementation of the 150,000 mt biomass green methanol demonstration project invested and constructed by Sunshine Green Energy in Tiandong County, Guangxi. Jiang Xi, Executive President of Sunshine Green Energy, Zhong Ling, General Manager of Johnson Matthey China, and Meng Chenzhou, General Manager of East China Engineering Science and Technology, signed the agreement on behalf of their respective parties. Zhongneng Kehang (Baotou) New Energy Technology Co., Ltd.: The annual 300 million m³ green electricity-to-hydrogen project received filing approval. The project is located in Jinshan Economic Development Zone, Guyang County, Baotou City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, with a total investment of 500 million yuan. Construction scale and content: 18 new hydrogen production lines, office buildings, workshops, shift dormitories, etc. Planned construction period: 2026/08–2028/07. Huawang (Qingdao) Hydrogen Energy Technology Group Co., Ltd.: plans to build a 5,000 Nm³/h PSA purification hydrogen production unit in Dongjiakou Chemical Industrial Park, Huangdao District, Qingdao City, Shandong Province. The project will utilize industrial by-product hydrogen resources within the park, and the purified hydrogen will be transported via pipeline to downstream hydrogen refueling stations. The company is now publicly soliciting interested partner manufacturers nationwide, collecting relevant equipment technical proposals and organizing evaluations. Suppliers with appropriate qualifications and project experience are welcome to participate. The project is located in Dongjiakou Chemical Industrial Park, Boli Town, Huangdao District, Qingdao City, with the liaison location at the Hydrogen Energy Building, Boli Town, West Coast New Area, Qingdao City. The available construction area for the unit is approximately 720 m² (30 m × 24 m). Bidding entities are required to complete the layout of process equipment, pipe racks, and maintenance access within the premises of meeting fire protection and safety clearance requirements. Utilities including electricity, circulating water, instrument air, nitrogen, and fire water can be connected to Jinneng Chemical's existing systems. Tieling Carbon Cycle Biotechnology Co., Ltd.: China Energy Engineering Group's CEEC Heilongjiang Institute won the EPC general contracting project for Tieling Carbon Cycle's biomass-to-green-methanol green electricity direct connection project. The project is located in the Chemical Industrial Park of Diaobingshan City, Tieling, Liaoning Province. In this phase, three 220 mt/h high-temperature and high-pressure circulating fluidized bed biomass boilers will be constructed, along with one 50 MW high-temperature and high-pressure extraction-condensing turbo-generator set. Supporting facilities including a desalinated water station, fuel storage yard, and main step-down substation will be built simultaneously. The project primarily provides green electricity and green steam for the overall green ethanol production project, serving as a supporting power plant project. Gansu Runlong Hongneng Energy Management Co., Ltd.: The Guazhou County wind and solar power hydrogen production coupled with biomass-based 250,000 mt/year green methanol integration project, with a total investment of 5.5 billion yuan, officially commenced construction at the Liugou Coal Chemical Industrial Park. The project is invested and constructed by Gansu Runlong Hongneng Energy Management Co., Ltd. It is a major construction reserve project listed by Gansu Province for 2026 and a key benchmark industrial project for Jiuquan City and Guazhou County. The project plans to build 390 MW wind power, 150 MW PV, with supporting 160 MW/320 MWh grid-forming ESS, 48,000 Nm³/h water electrolysis hydrogen production facilities, and a 250,000 mt/year green methanol synthesis unit, while simultaneously achieving biomass gasification synthesis coupled production. Adopting the "green electricity to green hydrogen + biomass gas synthesis" technology route, the project can achieve over 5% self-generated and self-consumed clean electricity, produce over 20,000 mt of green hydrogen annually, consume over 200,000 mt of agricultural and forestry waste annually, and build a zero-carbon energy and resource recycling system. China Energy Engineering Bochuang Green Fuel (Shenyang) Co., Ltd.: The Phase I 100,000 mt green methanol project of the Shenyang wind and solar power hydrogen production integrated with biomass green alcohol and oil demonstration project released an EPC general contracting tender announcement. Phase I construction includes 100 MW centralised wind power, 50 MW/100 MWh electrochemical energy storage, a 100,000 mt/year green methanol unit, and supporting facilities such as 360,000 mt/year biomass pretreatment. The biomass pretreatment plant produces 360,000 mt of biomass white pellets annually. The green methanol system is equipped with 3×1,000 Nm³/h electrolyser hydrogen production equipment, 60,000 Nm³ hydrogen storage tanks, two 600 mt/day pressurised fluidised bed gasification units, and a 100,000 mt/year methanol synthesis unit. The wind farm installs ten 10 MW wind turbines with a rotor diameter of 230 m and a wheel hub height of 160 m, connected to the project's supporting 66 kV step-down substation via two 66 kV overhead lines, with corresponding public auxiliary works constructed simultaneously. Zhongke Yitan Energy Technology (Chifeng) Co., Ltd.: The Hexigten Banner wind and solar power hydrogen-to-methanol and SAF integration project received filing approval. The project is located in Bayanduhumu Gacha, Darihanwula Sumu, Hexigten Banner, Chifeng City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The project entity is Zhongke Yitan Energy Technology (Chifeng) Co., Ltd., with a total investment of 7.5 billion yuan. Construction scale and content: 1. Construction of one water electrolysis hydrogen production line, including water electrolysis hydrogen production equipment, gas-liquid separation equipment, purification equipment, etc., with an annual green hydrogen output of 62,500 mt; 2. Construction of one green methanol synthesis production line, including biomass gasification equipment, combined purification equipment, methanol synthesis equipment, etc., with an annual green methanol production of 500,000 mt; 3. Construction of one SAF synthesis production line, with an annual SAF production of 100,000 mt. Planned construction period: 2026/05–2028/12. Jiamusi Hanya New Energy Co., Ltd. : China Energy Engineering CEPDI North China Institute signed a contract for the feasibility study and survey design of the Heilongjiang Huanan County 1.2 GW off-grid wind power hydrogen production and 500 MW grid-connected wind power project. In the off-grid wind power hydrogen-to-methanol project, the total installed wind power capacity is 1.2 GW, using 48 units with a single-unit capacity of 6.25 MW and 90 units with a single-unit capacity of 10 MW. The annual power generation of the wind farm is approximately 3.7 billion kWh, with approximately 3,081 annual equivalent full-load hours. Supporting construction includes four 220 kV step-up substations and ESS. After wind power hydrogen production, the hydrogen reacts with captured biomass carbon sources to produce methanol, with an annual methanol output of approximately 300,000 mt. Policy Review 1. The General Office of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and other departments jointly issued the Guidelines for Green Design of Industrial Products (2026 Edition). The Guidelines mention: Developing green design solutions. Focusing on industries such as automobiles, construction machinery, machine tools, bearings, wind power equipment, hydrogen energy equipment, PV, lithium batteries, household appliances, packaging, detergents, textiles, biomanufacturing, methanol, and tyres, and targeting key directions of green design, the aim is to develop green design solutions that are technologically advanced, economically feasible, and supply-demand compatible, forming a batch of replicable and scalable exemplary green design solutions. The goal is to cultivate green design solution providers with high professional standards and strong service capabilities, and to build a virtuous ecosystem of "demand-driven — solution development — industrial application". 2. Opinions of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council on Achieving Higher-Level and Higher-Quality Energy Conservation and Carbon Reduction. The opinions aim to use transport energy conservation and carbon reduction and green energy transition as two key drivers, coordinate low-carbon development with energy security, and accelerate the construction of a clean, low-carbon, safe, and efficient modern energy and transport system. Enterprise Updates Shanghai Yigong Hydrogen Energy Technology Co., Ltd.: The independently developed hydrogen compressor station unit completed delivery and shipment. The equipment will serve as the core power equipment for a hydrogen refueling station, applied in the Sinopec Shanghai Pudong Airport hydrogen refueling station project, providing high-pressure hydrogen refueling services for fuel cell logistics vehicles and tow tractors at the airport, and supporting the construction of a green, low-carbon, and smart integrated energy system at Pudong Airport. Lineng New Energy Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd.: Hanshan County signed a contract with Lineng New Energy Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. for a carbon paper diffusion layer substrate material R&D and manufacturing project. This project is a localisation project for key materials of hydrogen fuel cells and will be established in Hanshan, Anhui Province. Jiangsu Trina Green Hydrogen Technology Co., Ltd.: A batch of 1,000 Nm³/h alkaline hydrogen production equipment was delivered in a centralised shipment. The equipment has arrived at a large-scale domestic green ammonia-methanol project site and is about to commence installation. All electrolysers delivered in this batch were shipped after passing detection at the hydrogen production testing platform at the Yangzhou base. The platform covers approximately 2,000 m², is compatible with full-range hydrogen production system testing from 500 to 2,000 Nm³/h, has cumulatively completed testing of equipment exceeding 50 MW in scale, and possesses full-process performance verification and three-tier safety management capabilities. Suzhou CPU Hydrogen Power Technology Co., Ltd. : The independently developed 100 Nm³ containerised integrated hydrogen production system completed factory detection and was officially shipped to Sichuan, where it will support a local central state-owned enterprise hydrogen production project. The equipment adopts a modular integrated design, integrating electrolysis hydrogen production, purification, and intelligent management processes into a standard container, offering the advantages of convenient transport and rapid installation, enabling "installation upon arrival, commissioning upon installation." The equipment is customised to operate 8,000 hours annually, producing 72 mt of high-purity hydrogen per year. All performance parameters meet the stringent requirements of central state-owned enterprises, ensuring stable and continuous industrial hydrogen supply. Huadian (Ningxia) Energy Co., Ltd.: The tender for the preparation of the planning report for the Ningdong and surrounding areas green hydrogen coupled coal chemical integration project was officially released. The project covers the Ningxia Ningdong Energy and Chemical Industry Base and surrounding areas of Lingwu and Wuzhong, as well as the Ordos region of Inner Mongolia, planning to build a 10kt-level green hydrogen coupled coal chemical and cross-regional pipeline hydrogen transport system. The core project scale includes approximately 1.5 GW of new energy installed capacity, with supporting annual green hydrogen production of approximately 40,000 mt, for deep coupling with traditional coal chemical industries. According to the announcement, the winning bidder is required to complete the full set of planning reports within 180 days after the contract takes effect. The tender scope covers entire industry chain research, including regional industrial foundations, green hydrogen supply-demand and economic analysis, hydrogen storage and transport systems, key project planning, feasibility of green electricity-to-hydrogen layout, and energy and electricity policy consultation for both Ningxia and Inner Mongolia. China Marine Bunker (PetroChina) Co., Ltd.: Windey Energy Technology Group and China Marine Bunker officially signed a strategic cooperation agreement. Qin Ling, General Manager of China Marine Bunker, and Cheng Chenguang, General Manager of Windey Energy Technology Group, attended the ceremony and witnessed the signing. Under the agreement, both parties will focus on the core business of green fuel consumption and sales, deepening collaboration and synergising efforts in key areas such as specification and standard formulation, pricing mechanism development, and logistics and transport systems. By integrating resources and leveraging complementary strengths, they aim to jointly enhance the core competitiveness of the green shipping industry chain and inject new momentum into promoting high-quality transformation and green, low-carbon development of the shipping industry. Beijing Mingyang Hydrogen Energy Technology Co., Ltd.: Officially signed a series of hydrogen production equipment sales contracts with Spanish company KT. Under the agreement, Mingyang Hydrogen Energy will serve as the core hydrogen energy equipment and solution provider, supplying Spanish company KT with 1 MW AEM and 25 MW ALK complete hydrogen production systems and related supporting services, jointly opening a new chapter in in-depth Sino-Spanish green hydrogen industry cooperation. Hangyang Group Co., Ltd.: The company recently announced plans to invest in establishing Ordos Hangyang Gas Co., Ltd. (tentative name), constructing a new 70,000 Nm³/h air separation unit at the Dalu Industrial Park in Jungar Banner, Ordos City, Inner Mongolia, to provide critical gas supply for the Phase II expansion project of Inner Mongolia Tianrun Green Energy Chemical's 300,000 mt synthetic ammonia and 520,000 mt urea project. The park is a national-level modern coal chemical industry base in Inner Mongolia. Patent Applications 1. Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (China) published patent CN2025110028, developing a ceramic-based anion exchange membrane with a laboratory-tested lifespan of 80,000 hours. 2. Johnson Matthey (UK) filed patent WO2025109876, disclosing a Fe-Ni-Mo ternary non-precious metal catalyst formulation with activity approaching that of platinum-based materials. Technology Footprint / Technical Specifications 1. Petronor and H2SITE collaborated to advance membrane technology for hydrogen production, enhancing high-purity hydrogen and low-carbon efficiency in refining. 2. Dalian University of Technology designed an electron pump catalyst with an asymmetric photo-responsive structure, maintaining asymmetry in electron distribution. 3. The research team from the School of Electrical Engineering and the State Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Power Equipment at Xi'an Jiaotong University successfully developed the Ru/Ti₃C₂Oₓ@NF bifunctional electrocatalyst for seawater electrolysis. 4. The team led by Professor Yu Ying at Central China Normal University developed a three-dimensional hierarchical nanostructured catalytic electrode as a core component for seawater hydrogen production. 5. Johnson Matthey and Syensqo achieved efficient recovery and recycling of platinum group metals and ionomers from PEM fuel cells and electrolysers, significantly reducing the carbon footprint.

[SMM Zinc Morning Meeting Minutes: US-Iran Ceasefire Extended, LME Zinc Rally Continues]: Overnight, LME zinc opened at $3,446/mt. After the opening, LME zinc fluctuated upward throughout the session, dipping to a low of $3,433.5/mt early in the session. Near the close, LME zinc touched a high of $3,491.5/mt, ultimately closing higher at $3,466.5/mt, up $29.5/mt...

Recently, the Shanghai Municipal National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) issued a notice on the *Key Work Arrangements for Carbon Peaking, Carbon Neutrality, Energy Conservation and Emission Reduction in Shanghai for 2026*. The document stated that Shanghai would promote the diversified development of local renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power, with the city adding 600,000 kW of new PV installations. Two batches of standalone ESS power station projects would be advanced. The results of competitive bidding on mechanism-based electricity prices for new energy incremental projects would be publicly announced. Huangpu District would be organized to carry out the national carbon peaking pilot program. Chongming District would be supported in steadily advancing the national pilot program for ecological product value realization mechanisms. The *Shanghai Action Plan for Accelerating Green and Low-Carbon Transformation (2024–2027)* would be implemented, promoting the deployment of 15 key application scenarios for green and low-carbon transformation. The construction of national-level zero-carbon industrial parks would be supported, and a number of municipal-level zero-carbon industrial parks would be developed.

On April 22, the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council released the "Opinions on Achieving Higher-Level and Higher-Quality Energy Conservation and Carbon Reduction Work." The opinions laid out specific plans in areas including coordinating energy conservation, carbon reduction, and green transformation, vigorously advancing energy conservation and carbon reduction in key sectors, further strengthening supervision and management of energy conservation and carbon reduction, and reinforcing support and guarantees for energy conservation and carbon reduction work.

SMM, April 17: Metals market: As of the midday close, base metals on the domestic market rose nearly across the board. SHFE copper fell 0.14%. SHFE aluminum rose 0.67%. SHFE lead fell 0.39%, and SHFE zinc rose 0.68%. SHFE tin rose 0.34%, and SHFE nickel rose 2.05%. In addition, the continuous contract for casting aluminum futures edged up slightly, and the alumina continuous contract rose 0.68%. The lithium carbonate continuous contract rose 1.84%. The silicon metal continuous contract rose 0.71%. The polysilicon continuous contract fell 0.78%. Ferrous metals mostly rose. Iron ore rose 0.06%, rebar rose 0.45%, hot-rolled coil rose 0.24%, and stainless steel rose 2.34%. Coking coal and coke: the most-traded coking coal contract fell 0.45%, and the most-traded coke contract fell 0.62%. Overseas base metals, as of 11:40, LME metals showed mixed performance. LME copper fell 0.09%. LME aluminum fell 0.25%, LME lead rose 0.51%, and LME zinc rose 0.25%. LME tin fell 0.31%. LME nickel rose 1.61%. Precious metals, as of 11:40, COMEX gold rose 0.14%, and COMEX silver rose 0.37%. Domestic precious metals: the SHFE gold continuous contract fell 0.38%, and the SHFE silver continuous contract fell 0.91%. In addition, as of the midday close, the platinum continuous contract fell 1.94%, and the palladium continuous contract fell 1.7%. As of the midday close, the most-traded Europe containerized freight index contract rose 4.85%, closing at 2,095 points. As of 11:40 on April 17, midday futures quotes for selected contracts: Spot Prices and Fundamentals Copper: Today in Guangdong, #1 copper cathode spot prices against the front-month contract: high-quality copper was quoted at a premium of 250 yuan/mt, up 40 yuan/mt from the previous trading day; standard-quality copper was quoted at a premium of 170 yuan/mt, up 40 yuan/mt from the previous trading day; SX-EW copper was quoted at a premium of 110 yuan/mt, up 30 yuan/mt from the previous trading day. The average price of #1 copper cathode in Guangdong was 102,040 yuan/mt, down 505 yuan/mt from the previous trading day, and the average price of SX-EW copper was 102,455 yuan/mt, down 350 yuan/mt from the previous trading day... Macro Front China: [NDRC: This Year Will Focus on Launching a Series of Actions to Expand Effective Investment in Areas Such as "AI+" Infrastructure] The State Council Information Office held a press conference on the morning of April 17 under the series theme of "Getting Off to a Good Start for the 15th Five-Year Plan." Wang Changlin, Deputy Director of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), stated that this year the focus will be on areas such as "AI+" infrastructure, urban renewal, the national water network, and new-type energy systems, launching a series of actions to expand effective investment and promote the optimization of supply structure and the expansion of market demand. In terms of institutional and mechanism innovation, we will comprehensively carry out "soft construction" work in central government investment projects to promote the formation of long-term mechanisms for project construction, implementation, operation, and maintenance. At the same time, we will leverage the role of the national venture capital guidance fund to guide and drive social capital in supporting technological innovation and the development of emerging industries. Wang Changlin stated that recently, in response to the impact of changes in the international situation on China's oil and gas imports, the government has adopted comprehensive measures to effectively ensure sufficient domestic oil product supply and stable market operations, fully demonstrating the achievements of China's new-type energy system construction. Going forward, efforts will be made to accelerate the high-quality development of non-fossil energy, coordinate centralized and distributed clean energy development, and make every effort to increase the scale of non-fossil energy power production and consumption. Through the above efforts, it is expected that by 2030, the supply scale of non-fossil energy will increase significantly compared to 2025, and by 2035, it will double compared to 2025. [NDRC: Efforts to Expand Effective Domestic Demand, with a Plan to Formulate the 2026–2030 Implementation Plan for the Strategy of Expanding Domestic Demand] The State Council Information Office held a press conference in the series of "Getting Off to a Good Start in the 15th Five-Year Plan," introducing the relevant situation of promoting high-quality economic and social development during the 15th Five-Year Plan period. Wang Changlin, Deputy Director of the NDRC, stated that since the beginning of this year, the economy has shown positive changes, with notable improvements on both the supply and demand sides, better playing the role of a stabilizer for the global economy, and performing better than the expectations of many institutions and experts in and outside China. Going forward, efforts should focus on five key areas of work. [Pan Gongsheng: Implementing a Moderately Accommodative Monetary Policy and Measures to Boost Consumption] Pan Gongsheng stated that during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, China will adhere to a domestic demand-driven approach, implement policy measures to boost consumption, vigorously develop the service sector, closely integrate investment in physical assets with investment in human capital, promote productivity growth, accelerate green transformation and sustainable development, unswervingly advance high-level opening-up, and drive high-quality development. The People's Bank of China will implement a moderately accommodative monetary policy, support Chinese-style modernization with high-quality financial services, and contribute China's strength to global economic growth. (People's Bank of China) [MIIT and Four Other Departments Jointly Issue the Guidelines for Green Design of Industrial Products (2026 Edition)] MIIT and four other departments jointly issued the Guidelines for Green Design of Industrial Products (2026 Edition). The Guidelines adapt to new changes and requirements in the green and low-carbon development landscape in and outside China, build consensus on green design across industries, and specify 11 key directions, namely long-life design, non-toxic design, lightweight design, energy-saving design, water-saving design, material-saving design, noise reduction design, space-saving design, easy-to-recycle-and-regenerate design, reusable design, and zero-carbon design. TheThe Guidelines further closely integrate 11 green design priority areas with practical industry applications, using 15 key industries as typical examples to develop 126 detailed solutions, guiding product R&D personnel in practicing green design concepts and methods. (MIIT WeChat) [PBOC reverse repo operations achieve net withdrawal of 1.5 billion yuan on the day] The PBOC conducted 500 million yuan of 7-day reverse repo operations today. As 2 billion yuan of 7-day reverse repos matured today, a net withdrawal of 1.5 billion yuan was achieved on the day. This week, the PBOC conducted a total of 3 billion yuan of 7-day reverse repo operations. As a total of 3.5 billion yuan of 7-day reverse repos matured this week, a net withdrawal of 500 million yuan was achieved for the week. (Jin10 Data) On the US dollar front: As of 11:40, the US dollar index rose 0.04% to 98.24. StoneX analyst Matt Simpson said in a research note that, based on technical analysis, the US dollar index may edge up in the short term. On Thursday, the 200-day simple moving average formed a "mildly bullish" pattern, and the two-day relative strength index was in extremely oversold territory. However, there are multiple resistance levels, including the 200-day exponential moving average at 98.44 that bulls need to test — or a level that bears need to watch for signs of reversal to reopen a broader bearish trend. Data shows the US dollar index is currently holding near the 98.249 level. (Jin10 Data) On the data front, US initial jobless claims fell last week, indicating that labour market conditions remained stable, even as employers remained cautious about hiring new workers as the Middle East conflict cast a shadow over the economy. The latest data showed US initial jobless claims for the week ending April 11 fell by 11,000 to 207,000, below market expectations of 215,000. Initial jobless claims this year have remained within the range of 201,000 to 230,000. While layoffs remain low, the oil price shock from a potential US-Israeli war against Iran may have hindered hiring. Economists said the labour market was already in a state of stagnation before the war broke out, attributable to the uncertainty brought by Trump's sweeping import tariffs and mass deportations. Economists said the Middle East conflict is just another layer of uncertainty facing enterprises. (Jin10 Data) US Fed Governor Miran said that, given the inflation situation that existed before the Middle East conflict, he may again lower his expectations for interest rate cuts this year. Miran said: "If I were to write my dot on the dot plot now, I would lean toward 3 interest rate cuts, possibly 4. I haven't decided yet."In March, Miran expected four 25-basis-point interest rate cuts this year, but he noted that the pace of rate cuts could slow down if price trends became "less favorable." According to the CME "Fed Watch": the probability of the US Fed raising interest rates by 25 basis points in April was 0.5%, while the probability of keeping rates unchanged was 99.5%. The probability of a cumulative 25-basis-point interest rate cut by the US Fed through June was 1.4%, the probability of keeping rates unchanged was 98%, and the probability of a cumulative 25-basis-point rate hike was 0.5%. (Jin Shi Data) Data: The eurozone February seasonally adjusted current account and eurozone February seasonally adjusted trade balance data are to be released today. Also worth watching: 2027 FOMC voter and San Francisco Fed President Daly is scheduled to deliver a speech. Crude oil: As of 11:40, oil prices on both markets declined, with WTI crude down 1.25% and Brent crude down 1.02%. US President Trump, speaking to the media on the White House South Lawn on the 16th, said the US might hold another round of face-to-face negotiations with Iran this weekend, adding that he would consider heading to Pakistan to sign the deal if a peace agreement were reached between the US and Iran. Trump said he hoped to reach a permanent ceasefire peace agreement before the two-week temporary ceasefire agreement with Iran expires, without having to extend it. (Xinhua News Agency) Spot market overview: ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ►

Capacity side, according to incomplete statistics, China's alkaline electrolyzer market remained at 43.77 GW, the PEM electrolyzer market remained at 2.7 GW, with no new capacity additions for the time being. No offline public delivery information was available this week. Project-related updates: Guangdong Liquid Sunshine Green Energy Co., Ltd.: The company officially signed a memorandum of cooperation with Johnson Matthey, a global leader in sustainable technology, and East China Engineering Science and Technology Co., Ltd. in Hefei. The three parties will jointly advance the implementation of the 150,000 mt biomass green methanol demonstration project invested and constructed by Liquid Sunshine Green Energy in Tiandong County, Guangxi. Jiang Xi, Executive President of Liquid Sunshine Green Energy, Zhong Ling, General Manager of Johnson Matthey China, and Meng Chenzhou, General Manager of East China Engineering, completed the signing on behalf of their respective parties. Zhongneng Kehang (Baotou) New Energy Technology Co., Ltd.: The annual 300 million m³ green electricity-to-hydrogen production project received filing approval. The project is located in Baotou City — Guyang County — Jinshan Economic Development Zone, Guyang County, Baotou City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, with a total investment of 500 million yuan. Construction scale and content: 18 new hydrogen production lines, office buildings, workshops, shift dormitories, etc. Planned construction period: 2026/08–2028/07. Guoneng Xinjiang Electric Power Co., Ltd.: In collaboration with the New Energy Research Institute, the company successfully completed China's first 660 MW coal-fired boiler hydrogen co-firing pilot test, achieving a maximum hydrogen blending ratio of 45%, marking a pilot-scale breakthrough in coal-hydrogen co-combustion and pure hydrogen combustion. Heilongjiang Jiayirongyuan Green Chemical Co., Ltd.: Jidong County, Jixi City held the groundbreaking ceremony and technical exchange conference for the 300,000 mt green hydrogen-methanol-aviation fuel chemical co-production project. The project is invested and constructed by Heilongjiang Jiayirongyuan Green Chemical Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Jiaze New Energy Co., Ltd., with a planned total investment of approximately 3.557 billion yuan. The core of the project is to build an annual 300,000 mt green methanol production site and establish a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) sustainable development system. China Energy Engineering Overseas Investment Co., Ltd.: The commissioning ceremony for Central Asia's first AEM electrolysis hydrogen production research equipment was grandly held in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, marking a substantive breakthrough in joint R&D and application demonstration of key green hydrogen technologies between China and Kazakhstan. The equipment was jointly developed by the Overseas Investment Company and Shanghai Jiao Tong University, with the Overseas Investment Company also responsible for coordinating project investment and application scenario development. Leveraging advanced AEM electrolysis hydrogen production technology, the project demonstrates promising application prospects in improving hydrogen production efficiency and reducing system costs. Haiwang (Ningdong) New Materials Co., Ltd.: Its annual 5,000 mt carbazole project successfully completed trial production with feedstock. The project not only continuously produced high-grade products but also achieved batch delivery to multiple clients across different industries. It is understood that Haiwang (Ningdong) New Materials Co., Ltd. is a project jointly funded by Beijing Haiwang Hydrogen Energy Technology Co., Ltd. and Ningxia Ningdong Technology Venture Capital Co., Ltd. The company is located in the New Materials Park of Ningxia Ningdong Energy and Chemical Industry Base, covering 65 mu of land, and construction of an annual 5,000 mt-class continuous carbazole production line has been completed. Zhongneng Jian Bochuang Green Fuel (Shenyang) Co., Ltd.: China's first 500,000 mt-class biomass green methanol-oil demonstration project — the Liaoning Shenyang 500,000 mt-class wind and solar power hydrogen production integrated with biomass green methanol-oil demonstration project — officially commenced construction. The demonstration project has a total investment of 32 billion yuan, fully leveraging the local unique resource advantages of "wind power + biomass," and is committed to building an annual 500,000 mt biomass green methanol-oil project, equipped with 2 GW centralized wind power, with an estimated annual biomass demand of approximately 3 million mt. It is understood that the project will be advanced in three phases. After Phase I completion, annual green methanol production of 100,000 mt will be achieved; after Phase II completion, annual green aviation fuel production of 300,000 mt will be achieved; after Phase III completion, annual green ammonia production of 100,000 mt will be achieved, at which point the overall capacity target of 500,000 mt-class green fuel will be fully met. Xindao Hydrogen Energy Technology (Baotou) Co., Ltd.: The company co-hosted an industry-academia-research cooperation signing ceremony with the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering of Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of Jiangsu Xindao Energy Group, Xindao Hydrogen Energy Technology (Baotou) Co., Ltd. is actively engaged in the construction of a hydrogen-based green fuel off-grid green electricity direct-connection project, aiming to achieve annual targets of 1.485 billion kWh of green electricity, 291 million m³ of green hydrogen, and 200,000 mt of green methanol. The company is committed to promoting the commercialization and application of key technologies for "electricity-hydrogen-carbon" integrated high-efficiency balanced synergy, and has reached a cooperation agreement with a well-known South Korean shipping enterprise on long-term green methanol supply and sales. Policy Review 1. Notice of the Shaanxi Provincial People's Government on Issuing the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development. The document stated that hydrogen-related industrial clusters should be accelerated with a focus on Yulin, Xi'an, and other areas, building a full industry chain of hydrogen energy covering "production, storage, transportation, refueling, and utilization," reducing hydrogen production costs, and expanding hydrogen energy application scenarios. 2. Notice of the Guangzhou Municipal Administration and Comprehensive Law Enforcement Bureau on Issuing the Guidelines for Applying for Special Subsidies for Hydrogen Refueling Station Construction and Operation in Guangzhou. 3. The People's Government of the 8th Division Shihezi City of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps released the Administrative Measures for Hydrogen Energy Industry Development of the 8th Division Shihezi City (Trial) (Draft for Public Comments). The document stated that the safety management of hydrogen energy product production, storage, transportation, filling, and use within the administrative area of the Division and City shall be governed by these measures. Where other laws and administrative regulations provide otherwise, those provisions shall apply. Enterprise Updates Zibo Wangji Transportation Co., Ltd.: The first batch of 40 hydrogen-powered heavy-duty trucks were lined up and officially put into operation. These hydrogen heavy-duty trucks are all equipped with Guohong Hydrogen Energy's fuel cell systems and will primarily undertake trunk-line transportation of bulk materials such as ore powder, cement powder, and coal ash. Under typical conditions of a 100 km one-way trip with a full load of 40 mt, the vehicles can complete refueling in just 20 minutes using the supporting skid-mounted hydrogen refueling station. Sichuan Energy Investment Kuanzhai Green Supply Chain Co., Ltd.: The company released a competitive inquiry for the 2026–2027 comprehensive leasing service procurement project for five 49 mt hydrogen heavy-duty trucks. The tender announcement showed that the procurement covers comprehensive leasing services for five 49 mt hydrogen heavy-duty trucks (including tractor + semi-trailer + driving service + insurance + maintenance). Lease period: the contract term is one year in total, with the initial period of 3 months signed first, followed by contract renewals based on actual demand. This project does not accept consortium participation in the inquiry. Changsha Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology: The bureau released the transaction announcement for the hydrogen energy industry foundation and comprehensive application scenario research service project. The announcement showed that the Fifth Electronics Research Institute of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology successfully won the bid, with a winning amount of 192,000 yuan. Guangdong Yuntao Hydrogen Energy Technology Co., Ltd. : The company officially reached a sales agreement with Guangzhou Yue'ancheng Trading Co., Ltd., under which Yuntao Hydrogen Energy will deliver 100 hydrogen heavy-duty trucks to Yue'ancheng Trading. It is understood that the 100 dump trucks in this successful order came from the key account development department of Yuntao Hydrogen Energy's dump truck business division, and will comprehensively support Yue'ancheng Trading's core transportation operations. To meet its high-frequency, high-volume transportation needs, these vehicles are equipped with fuel cell systems independently developed by Yuntao Hydrogen Energy, featuring advantages such as a driving range of up to 400 km, hydrogen refueling time of no more than 15 minutes, peak power of 355 kW, and payload capacity exceeding 14 mt. Shanghai Hydrogen Maple Energy Technology Co., Ltd.: The company officially issued a certification to CSSC 712 Research Institute, marking a key breakthrough in China's marine SOFC technology and entering a new stage of standardized and industrialized development. Suzhou Qingqiji Environmental Protection New Energy Co., Ltd.: Following its successful bid for the Sinopec Group Zhongtian Hechuang Ordos coal chemical project and securing the first batch order of 8 electrolyzers, the company won additional orders for the same project in subsequent months. Specifically, after the initial bid win, Qingqiji leveraged its strengths to secure an additional order of 8 alkaline water electrolysis hydrogen production electrolyzers for the Zhongtian Hechuang project four months later, making it the supplier with the largest tied share (16 electrolyzers in total) in the project. It is understood that the Zhongtian Hechuang wind and solar power hydrogen production integration project is not only Sinopec Group's second large-scale renewable energy hydrogen production project globally, but also a landmark project in China's hydrogen energy sector. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University: The first AEM hydrogen production–magnesium-based solid-state hydrogen storage integrated system, independently developed by its Hydrogen Science Center, was officially commissioned in Kazakhstan. The system integrates two core technologies — efficient hydrogen production and safe hydrogen storage — achieving deep intelligent coupling of hydrogen production and storage. It employs non-precious metal, low-cost green electricity dynamic direct-connection hydrogen production and directly delivers hydrogen at low pressure to the magnesium-based solid-state hydrogen storage module, eliminating high-pressure compression and cryogenic liquefaction steps, pioneering a new pathway for large-scale green hydrogen applications. ITM Power Plc: UK electrolyzer producer ITM Power Plc (LON:ITM) secured government funding of £86.5 million ($115.8 million/€99.3 million). The funding includes national equity investment and grants, and will support the construction of a 1 GW production line for its next-generation Chronos electrolyzer stack. Patent Applications 1. Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (China) published patent CN2025110028, developing a ceramic-based anion exchange membrane with a laboratory-tested lifespan of 80,000 hours. 2. Johnson Matthey (UK) filed patent WO2025109876, disclosing an Fe-Ni-Mo ternary non-precious metal catalyst formulation with activity approaching that of platinum-based materials. Technology Footprint / Technical Specifications 1. The team led by Professor Yu Ying at Central China Normal University developed a three-dimensional hierarchical nanostructured catalytic electrode, a core part for seawater hydrogen production. 2. Dalian University of Technology designed an electron pump catalyst with an asymmetric photo-responsive structure, maintaining asymmetry in electron distribution. 3. A research team from the School of Electrical Engineering and the State Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Power Equipment at Xi'an Jiaotong University successfully developed a Ru/Ti₃C₂Oₓ@NF bifunctional electrocatalyst for seawater electrolysis. 4. Johnson Matthey and Syensqo achieved efficient recovery and recycling of platinum group metals and ionomers from PEM fuel cells and electrolyzers, significantly reducing the carbon footprint. 5. Teams from Xi'an Jiaotong University and Peking University jointly developed a novel osmium-based catalyst, significantly improving AEM water electrolysis hydrogen production efficiency and economics, facilitating large-scale low-cost green hydrogen production.