Ceres Spotlighted in China-EU Hydrogen Report as Top-Tier Example of Cross-Border Collaboration
British fuel cell technology specialist Ceres has been highlighted as a model of EU–China energy collaboration in a newly released report titled EU-China Cooperation in Hydrogen – A New Frontier, published to coincide with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the European Union and China.
The report — jointly curated by the EU-China Energy Cooperation Platform (ECECP) and the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, and backed by China’s National Energy Administration — showcases select hydrogen and e-fuel projects bridging the two regions. Ceres was selected for its innovations in solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology, as well as its ongoing engagements with Chinese industrial partners to develop stationary clean power applications.
“This recognition comes at a significant milestone—50 years of diplomatic relations between the EU and China—and highlights the growing importance of hydrogen technologies in the global energy transition,” said the company. “Ceres’ inclusion reflects not only our commitment to innovation but also the increasing demand for clean energy solutions in China and our ability to enable this.”
The report positions EU–China hydrogen cooperation as a central driver of global decarbonization, with the potential to significantly accelerate development and deployment of clean energy systems. With electrolysis and fuel cell innovation now viewed as critical pieces of the energy transition, both blocs are doubling down on coordinated R&D, tech sharing, and infrastructure alignment.
“Stationary power, based on solid oxide fuel cells, is clearly emerging as a key pillar in future energy systems, and we’re proud to be part of this momentum,” Ceres added.
The timing of the report coincides with the broader push by Beijing and Brussels to formalize a new strategic framework around green innovation in the face of deteriorating relations with Washington and tightening geopolitical headwinds. Trade between the two partners has surged—from $2.4bn in 1975 to more than $780bn by 2024—with cross-investment now exceeding $260bn, despite mounting friction over industrial subsidies and supply chain security.
Both sides have pledged to deepen cooperation in renewables, hydrogen, AI, and digital infrastructure under overlapping initiatives such as China’s Belt and Road and the EU’s Global Gateway — although tensions persist around the EU’s “de-risking” rhetoric and ongoing trade imbalance disputes.
Still, green energy remains one of the few areas of high-level convergence. China and the EU are the two largest players in the global low-carbon economy and are both committed to the Paris Agreement and multilateral frameworks for decarbonisation. The report notes that “cooperation between the regions to achieve technology development and deployment is a powerful driver for innovation and sustainability, allowing both regions to share expertise and accelerate the energy transition globally.”
The report also signals increasing confidence in China’s readiness to scale up high-efficiency hydrogen technologies, particularly in stationary and distributed power systems. This comes amid broader national efforts by China to reduce reliance on coal-fired baseload power and to stabilize grid imbalances by integrating distributed clean hydrogen generation and SOFC-based energy storage.
The ECECP highlighted that “the time is right for China-EU cooperation” and stressed the mutual benefits of collaborative climate strategies in the face of global fragmentation and geopolitical rivalry.
In total, the report features multiple EU-based companies with pilot hydrogen projects or technology licensing arrangements in China, but Ceres was singled out for the depth of its SOFC platform development and long-standing commitment to enabling hydrogen use cases tailored to China’s industrial decarbonization needs.
Source:FCW