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2025/12/15

CGPC has completed the integration of process by-product hydrogen recovery with a fuel cell cogeneration system, achieving an 85% reduction in the carbon emission intensity of electricity in this project.

With the support of the Bureau of Energy, Ministry of Economic Affairs, CGPC completed the “Process By-product Hydrogen Recovery and Fuel Cell Cogeneration System Integration Project” under the Industry Energy Project. Using by-product hydrogen from in-plant processes as the energy source, a low-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) cogeneration system capable of operating under non-pure hydrogen conditions was introduced. Verification of completed system integration and pilot operation of small modules, with the objective of ensuring process safety, energy recovery, and carbon reduction benefits. This system overcomes the traditional limitation of fuel cells requiring high-purity hydrogen by converting low-purity by-product hydrogen into electricity and recoverable heat. It reduces the plant’s dependence on external power, enhances energy efficiency, and verifies the feasibility and application potential of hydrogen energy in manufacturing environments.


Key Achievements:

  • Fuel Cell Deployment: Successfully applied fuel cell technology to process by-product hydrogen, overcoming high-purity hydrogen constraints. The system delivers a measured output power of approximately 10.2 kW, with an outlet water temperature of around 63.7°C, enabling the simultaneous generation of electricity and thermal energy.
  • Safety Monitoring Platform: Established a real-time off-gas monitoring system to measure hydrogen concentration (0%–99.9%), temperature, pressure, and flow rate. All data are integrated into a human–machine interface (HMI), enhancing operational visibility and risk management.
  • Long-Term Operational Verification: Achieved 313 hours of cumulative operation with a total electricity generation of 3,192.6 kWh. Routine daily start-up and shutdown operations did not affect existing processes, demonstrating system stability and reliability.
  • Significant Carbon Reduction Performance: The system’s power carbon emission factor is only 0.068 kg-CO₂e/kWh, representing an approximately 85% reduction compared with Taiwan Power Company’s announced factor of 0.474 kg-CO₂e/kWh, delivering substantial ESG contributions. (The carbon reduction calculation does not include the benefits from thermal energy recovery.)


Future Outlook:
CGPC will continue to optimize fuel cell efficiency, evaluate the feasibility of expanding by-product hydrogen recovery and energy reuse, and promote the application of this technology to other process units. In alignment with the Company’s sustainability strategy, CGPC will steadily advance its low-carbon and circular energy initiatives, strengthen energy resilience, and respond to global net-zero transition trends.


For further details, please refer to the “Process Off-Gas Hydrogen Recovery and Fuel Cell Combined Heat and Power (CHP) System Integration Project” completed by China General Plastics Corporation.



With the support of the Bureau of Energy, Ministry of Economic Affairs, CGPC completed the “Process By-product Hydrogen Recovery and Fuel Cell Cogeneration System Integration Project” under the Industry Energy Project. Using by-product hydrogen from in-plant processes as the energy source, a low-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) cogeneration system capable of operating under non-pure hydrogen conditions was introduced. Verification of completed system integration and pilot operation of small modules, with the objective of ensuring process safety, energy recovery, and carbon reduction benefits. This system overcomes the traditional limitation of fuel cells requiring high-purity hydrogen by converting low-purity by-product hydrogen into electricity and recoverable heat. It reduces the plant’s dependence on external power, enhances energy efficiency, and verifies the feasibility and application potential of hydrogen energy in manufacturing environments.


Key Achievements:

  • Fuel Cell Deployment: Successfully applied fuel cell technology to process by-product hydrogen, overcoming high-purity hydrogen constraints. The system delivers a measured output power of approximately 10.2 kW, with an outlet water temperature of around 63.7°C, enabling the simultaneous generation of electricity and thermal energy.
  • Safety Monitoring Platform: Established a real-time off-gas monitoring system to measure hydrogen concentration (0%–99.9%), temperature, pressure, and flow rate. All data are integrated into a human–machine interface (HMI), enhancing operational visibility and risk management.
  • Long-Term Operational Verification: Achieved 313 hours of cumulative operation with a total electricity generation of 3,192.6 kWh. Routine daily start-up and shutdown operations did not affect existing processes, demonstrating system stability and reliability.
  • Significant Carbon Reduction Performance: The system’s power carbon emission factor is only 0.068 kg-CO₂e/kWh, representing an approximately 85% reduction compared with Taiwan Power Company’s announced factor of 0.474 kg-CO₂e/kWh, delivering substantial ESG contributions. (The carbon reduction calculation does not include the benefits from thermal energy recovery.)


Future Outlook:
CGPC will continue to optimize fuel cell efficiency, evaluate the feasibility of expanding by-product hydrogen recovery and energy reuse, and promote the application of this technology to other process units. In alignment with the Company’s sustainability strategy, CGPC will steadily advance its low-carbon and circular energy initiatives, strengthen energy resilience, and respond to global net-zero transition trends.


For further details, please refer to the “Process Off-Gas Hydrogen Recovery and Fuel Cell Combined Heat and Power (CHP) System Integration Project” completed by China General Plastics Corporation.



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