In recent years, global energy crisis and environmental pollution have become increasingly prominent, driving the transformation of the energy industry towards hydrogen energy and new energy vehicles. This transformation has not only had a profound impact on the energy industry, but also brought about significant changes in the demand for stainless steel forgings.
On one hand, as hydrogen energy gradually becomes more popular, stainless steel forgings have become an important material in its production. According to data from the National Energy Administration, China has initiated a series of large-scale hydrogen energy projects, such as the North-South Pole Hydrogen Energy Demonstration Project, the Hydrogen Gas Connecting Four Provinces Joint Test and Application, etc. These projects will involve the development of hydrogen gas transport pipelines, hydrogen production equipment, and hydrogen fuel cells, among other related technologies. In this process, many stainless steel forgings are widely used. Among them, 304 stainless steel, 316L stainless steel, and other materials with excellent corrosion resistance, toughness, and high-temperature strength are becoming indispensable materials in the hydrogen energy industry.
On the other hand, as new energy vehicles become more popular, stainless steel forgings have also gradually become one of their core components. According to statistics from the National Energy Administration, by the end of 2022, China’s cumulative sales of new energy vehicles had exceeded 10 million. Various types of vehicles, such as electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles, use a large number of stainless steel forgings. For example, in the battery and control systems, stainless steel forgings are widely used in key areas such as current contacts and electrolytic fluid conduits. In hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, the high corrosion of hydrogen gas puts higher requirements on the corrosion resistance and mechanical strength of stainless steel forgings.
The above are just some examples of the demand for stainless steel forgings in the hydrogen energy and new energy vehicle era. In fact, the hydrogen energy and new energy vehicle industry chain involves many fields, such as energy storage, charging equipment, and power grids. This has also further expanded and upgraded the demand for stainless steel forgings in these areas.
From the perspective of national policies, China has already introduced policies to support the hydrogen energy and new energy vehicle industries in several areas. For example, the “Several Policies to Promote the Development of the New Energy Vehicle Industry” issued in 2019 clearly stated that the development of high-end manufacturing industries such as power batteries, motors, and key components for new energy vehicles should be encouraged to help tackle the core technology of new energy vehicles. In terms of hydrogen energy, China has also introduced relevant policies and planning documents for hydrogen energy technology R&D and industrial application.
Overall, the impact of the hydrogen energy and new energy vehicle era on the demand for stainless steel forgings will be long-term and sustainable. With the continuous advancement of relevant technologies and policies, this trend will become more prominent. Therefore, related companies should actively follow market demand, strengthen technological innovation, and develop high-quality stainless steel forging products.
