Lv Zhihui, Chairman of Dalian Funde Jinyu New Energy Co., Ltd.: Promoting the rapid development of the hydrogen energy industry with core technology

This article is reprinted from: China Business Times, author: Zhou Taiyou

The Energy Law of the People's Republic of China, which came into effect on January 1, 2025, clearly incorporates hydrogen energy into the energy management system. Encourage the research, development, demonstration, promotion and application, and industrialization of major fundamental, key and cutting-edge technologies in the field of hydrogen energy. At this juncture, the 100-ton magnesium hydride solid-state hydrogen storage material production line of Dalian Funde Jinyu New Energy Co., LTD. (referred to as "Funde Jinyu") was put into operation in Yulin, Shaanxi Province. As China's first 100-ton magnesium hydride production line with independent intellectual property rights, it has overcome the technical difficulties in large-scale preparation of magnesium-based hydrogen storage materials, achieving low-cost, efficient and digital production of magnesium hydride, and setting a new world record for production capacity of similar production lines.

Lv Zhihui, the founder and chairman of Funde Jinyu, stated that the large-scale production and development of magnesium hydrogen-based hydrogen storage materials and related technologies by Funde Jinyu is of great significance for addressing the common key issue in the hydrogen energy industry - "safe and efficient hydrogen storage and transportation", and can also contribute to the high-quality development of the hydrogen energy industry under the background of "dual carbon".

Let hydrogen storage and transportation no longer be a bottleneck in the industry
Lv Zhihui is a researcher at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. He participated in and led the development and promotion of the "Complete Set of Methanol-to-Olefins (DMTO) technology", which is the world's first complete set of technology to complete a commercial chemical plant with a capacity of one million tons. It pioneered the production of basic chemical raw materials (ethylene, propylene) from coal and natural gas resources via methanol. Establish China's leading position in the international coal-based olefin industry worldwide. Over the past decade, with the vision of "making hydrogen storage and transportation no longer a bottleneck for the industry's development", he has been committed to hydrogen energy innovation and dedicated to the mission of serving the country through the industry. To enhance material performance and optimize the production process, he led Funde Jinyu to conduct step-by-step tests from small-scale trials to pilot-scale amplification tests and related engineering tests, continuously iterating and upgrading the batch production technology, and was able to continuously and stably prepare high-performance magnesium hydride materials with a hydrogen release rate of over 7wt%.

Lv Zhihui introduced that the world's first 1,000-ton magnesium-based solid-state hydrogen storage material production line project is about to be invested and constructed on Changxing Island, Dalian. The site selection has been completed and it has entered the design stage. It is planned to be put into operation by the end of this year. This project is based on the patented technology of the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. It is jointly carried out by Funde Jinyu, Yulin Institute of Clean Energy Innovation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. It adopts a "one-pot" continuous hydrogenation production process to achieve safe and efficient production of magnesium-based solid-state hydrogen storage materials. And build a "dark factory" integrating continuous operation, automation, intelligence and scale. After the project is completed, it will effectively solve the problem of hydrogen storage and transportation in China, significantly enhance the global supply capacity of magnesium-based solid-state hydrogen storage materials, and promote the large-scale application of hydrogen energy.

We will also become the first company that can provide the market with magnesium hydride products of stable quality and meet the batch production needs of customers. Lv Zhihui said.

The "Research and Development and Industrialization of Magnesium hydride Materials and Related Products" project of Funde Jinyu has been approved by the 2023 "Challenge and Response" (Special Project for the Transformation of Scientific and Technological Achievements) of Liaoning Province and supported by the Special Plan for the Implementation of Patent Transformation in Liaoning Province, and has been selected as a national-level technology-based small and medium-sized enterprise. The magnesium-based solid-state hydrogen storage and transportation system integration technology has been supported by the major special Project of Liaoning Province in 2024 and has been awarded the qualification of a specialized, refined, distinctive and innovative small and medium-sized enterprise.

Solve the problem of long-term storage and transportation of hydrogen
Under the global trend of energy transition, long-duration energy storage is the key to the high-quality development of new energy. Lv Zhihui believes that the key point currently restricting the development of the hydrogen energy industry lies in the storage and transportation link. The main bottleneck of hydrogen energy storage and transportation is to solve the problems of safety, low efficiency and high cost. The advantages of high safety, high efficiency and low cost of magnesium-based solid-state hydrogen storage have become the best path to realize the industrialization of hydrogen energy storage and transportation.

When it comes to how Funde Jinyu can solve the "bottleneck" problem of hydrogen storage and transportation that restricts the development of the global hydrogen energy industry, Lyu Zhihui said that it is necessary to organically combine the technology of research institutes with external market resources, innovatively promote the productization and industrialization of scientific and technological achievements, and build a system integration technology platform integrating scientific research, technology transfer and large-scale production. The chimeric catalyst magnesium hydride product developed by Funde Jinyu using the catalyst from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, can significantly reduce the temperature conditions required for hydrogen absorption and release of the material - it can absorb hydrogen from room temperature to 155℃ and release hydrogen from 220℃ to 350℃, laying a solid foundation for the large-scale and low-cost application of magnesium-based hydrogen storage materials.

Hydrogen is the lightest of all substances in nature. In magnesium hydride, hydrogen gas and magnesium metal are closely bonded together by chemical bonds. This density is much higher than that of hydrogen gas compressed into a liquid. At present, the gas cylinders used for transporting hydrogen in automobiles can only be compressed to store 14 kilograms of hydrogen in one cubic meter. If it is liquefied, then compressed and frozen, in the liquid state, one cubic meter can store 70 kilograms of hydrogen. One cubic meter of solid magnesium hydride stores 110 kilograms of hydrogen. This greatly reduces the cost.

Magnesium hydride, as a hydrogen storage material with great application prospects, features high hydrogen storage capacity, safety, environmental friendliness and recyclability. The magnesium hydride material prepared by the Funde Jinyu production line has a purity of up to 90%-99%, with a cycle life of over a thousand times. Its price is highly competitive in the market.

Clean energy sources such as wind power and photovoltaic power are restricted by natural conditions (such as photovoltaic power failure at night and unpredictable wind power). Energy storage systems can store excess electricity and release it during peak demand periods to ensure the stability of the power grid. Magnesium hydride in energy storage devices functions like a water-absorbing sponge, absorbing and storing hydrogen produced by unstable wind and solar power in the upstream. When needed downstream, it can stably output hydrogen, electricity and steam outward. The long-duration energy storage complex thus formed not only has the functions of thermal power (power supply and heating), but also can supply hydrogen.

Magnesium hydride shows extensive application potential
As a high-performance inorganic compound, magnesium hydride has demonstrated extensive application potential in multiple fields such as energy storage, aerospace, battery manufacturing, metal material preparation, agriculture, food industry, catalysts, and fireworks production.

Its high hydrogen storage capacity, easily controllable reaction characteristics and unique electrochemical properties make magnesium hydride a new type of magnesium-based solid-state hydrogen storage material, an ideal anode material and an important reducing agent. Lv Zhihui has conducted in-depth research on this.

He indicated that in the field of hydrogen health, magnesium hydride can be used in the research and development of hydrogen-rich products to achieve long-term storage and stable supply of hydrogen. In the field of hydrogen medicine, magnesium hydride can produce high-purity hydrogen and provide a safe and clean gas source. In the field of hydrogen medical aesthetics, magnesium hydride is non-toxic and harmless, and its hydrogen release is controllable, which can help optimize and iterate medical aesthetics products. In the field of hydrogen agriculture, magnesium hydride can ensure stable production and increase efficiency for crop cultivation and livestock breeding, and effectively remove pesticide residues. In the field of hydrogen energy equipment, magnesium hydride is safe and convenient to use, with stable hydrogen supply, no need for electricity, and simple operation.

Unlike gaseous and liquid hydrogen storage methods, magnesium hydride can be safely and efficiently stored and transported at normal temperature and pressure, and can be transported by various means of land, sea and air, with significant economic benefits over medium distances. Relying on the performance advantages of solid-state hydrogen storage materials, Funde Jinyu can provide customers with an ultra-long range, safe and environmentally friendly usage experience. Lv Zhihui stated that solid-state hydrogen storage mobile power banks are convenient for battery swapping and can be used immediately after replacement. They can meet various needs such as camping in the wild, emergency rescue, outdoor operations, home and commercial backups, and military operations, and are particularly suitable for scenarios like outages and remote islands. In addition, hydrogen-powered drones can have an empty flight time of up to 2.5 hours and a maximum takeoff weight of 25 kilograms. They are suitable for scenarios such as power inspection, logistics transportation, and pesticide spraying.