Along with Sinopec’s research arm and one of the world’s largest steel producers, Baowu, Hydrexia aims to use its magnesium-based MHX system to deliver hydrogen to heavy industry.

The demonstration is backed by the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology, and extends MHX use beyond transport and logistics and into hard-to-abate industrial sectors, which require large, stable volumes of hydrogen to decarbonise.

“We are excited to set foot in a new market segment with a focused MHX application scenario,” Alex Fang, the chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Hydrexia, said.

“This important application initiative will set the tone for enhancing hydrogen application scenarios on a much larger scale.”

Hydrexia’s MHX system stores hydrogen by absorbing it into a magnesium-based metal alloy rather than compressing it as a gas or cooling it to -253°C as a liquid.

The hydrogen forms a solid compound within the alloy and can be released as a gas when heated or depressurised.

While metal hydrides offer higher volumetric density than compressed hydrogen, they are significantly heavier; typical materials hold around 4–8% of their weight in hydrogen, dropping to roughly 2–4% once container components are included.

SEDC Energy shipped hydrogen from Malaysia to Singapore and Hong Kong using Hydrexia’s technology in October.