this man is not calm

Chapter 531 There’s a long way to go
Hydrogen, touted as the ideal clean energy source for half a century, presents major challenges at almost every stage, from its production and storage to its transportation and use.

The production and storage of hydrogen are still within acceptable limits. Combined with new energy sources such as wind and solar power, and with the rapid decline in the cost per kilowatt-hour, it will inevitably bring excellent business opportunities sooner or later.

Whether used directly or as a chemical raw material, it has a very promising future.

However, storage and transportation are not so easy to handle, especially the latter. How to transport hydrogen, a relatively dangerous energy medium, to the end user is a challenge. Low efficiency and high cost are only one factor. Hydrogen is too small and can easily escape into almost any container, causing "hydrogen embrittlement." High concentrations of liquid hydrogen make long-term storage and transportation difficult.

Given the high costs, in order to keep expenses within an acceptable range, it is necessary to make the most of existing infrastructure, such as the nationwide natural gas pipeline network.

Directly transporting hydrogen is definitely not feasible. The best method is to mix large amounts of green hydrogen into natural gas and then use a well-developed gas pipeline network to deliver the hydrogen to where it is needed.

The existing pipeline network system can be directly transported with a 30% blend of natural gas to households or gas filling stations without modification or with only minor upgrades, becoming fuel for natural gas-powered vehicles, ships, generators, and boilers, thus fully utilizing green hydrogen and reducing costs while increasing efficiency.

In the laboratory, they have barely managed to mix 24% hydrogen without affecting traditional natural gas pipelines. They are still some distance from the goal, but they have barely reached the threshold for widespread application.

"A 20% blending ratio is an excellent benefit for the large number of offshore wind farms in North China, Northeast China, and the open sea. I don't need to expand it on a large scale for the time being. I only need to connect it in the Bohai Bay, Northeast China, the southeast coast, and major port cities along the Yangtze River."

Kim Sang-rye made his request.

It's too complicated and simply impossible. With current infrastructure standards, a 20% mixing ratio only requires replacing a batch of standard parts and seals, which is relatively easy to solve and much cheaper than replacing the entire pipeline.

As standards continue to improve, the proportion of hydrogen blending can also be increased accordingly.

We're currently stuck on the first step: can we build a pilot pipeline for hydrogen-blended natural gas?

"I've reviewed the materials..."

Huang Zhengkuo said wearily.

"According to you, by using appropriate materials, low-pressure transportation, and mixing in trace amounts of carbon monoxide and oxygen, 'hydrogen embrittlement' can be suppressed to the maximum extent, and the blending ratio can be increased to 50% or even higher. It seems very good and promising, but the cost issue is a major obstacle."

If it's just one or two pilot projects, that's fine, but if it's to be rolled out on a large scale, there are still many areas in the natural gas pipeline network system that need adjustment.

Everything requires cost, and whether the input and output match is a major challenge.

After thinking for a moment, Kim Sang replied:
"Given our domestic consumption levels, there's absolutely no need to follow the example of those individual cities and adopt excessively high hydrogen blending ratios. If it were to exceed 30%, production capacity might not be able to keep up. Green hydrogen, blue hydrogen, and gray hydrogen are also not suitable. This stuff is an important chemical raw material, and simply burning it is a bit wasteful. Using it as an alternative energy source for automobiles and ships is quite appropriate, and its commercial prospects are promising."

"You're taking food from someone else's plate. Energy... it's not that simple. Unless there's higher-level policy support, something that complements the existing system, or something that benefits the vast majority of stakeholders, it's not just about taking subsidies..."

Huang Zhengkuo shook his head as he spoke.

If an industry wants to develop, rather than just going through the motions to receive subsidies, it must have a lot of real substance.

Several companies under Jinshang have related businesses, some of which are high-energy-consuming.

"Old man, aside from the original super-energy-consuming data centers, the demand for power fuel in logistics and transportation is almost endless. With the further rise in oil and natural gas prices, warehousing and distribution costs are about to eat up all profits. Cheap power energy is a must, and electrification is the foundation, especially for intra-city express delivery and transportation between nearby cities. Light trucks of about 4.5 tons and larger freight vehicles will be the main force. As for long-distance freight... rail and water transport are cheap, but it is difficult to obtain wagons, and air transport is a bit slow. Road transport may be the best choice for short and medium distances."

This wasn't just Jin Shang's wild guess; he had witnessed it in his past life. While railways and waterways certainly have their advantages, the fact that major courier companies ultimately chose road transport unanimously demonstrates that its advantages are equally prominent.

With the electrification of commercial vehicles still in its infancy, apart from a few designated routes where costs can be significantly reduced, the remaining costs will still need to be filled by cheap alternative fuels to make up for the price difference.

After thinking for a moment, Huang Zhengkuo calmly said:
"Oil and gas prices will rise in the future, but opinions vary on how high; nobody really knows for sure. You seem certain that they will be higher than anyone expected?"

"Correct!"

Kim Sang answered very confidently.

"The rise in fuel demand is only one aspect. With the rapid development of our domestic economy and the continuous improvement of industrial scale, the demand for various raw materials and chemical products will become greater and greater. Among them, the consumption of petrochemical minerals by petrochemical and coal chemical industries will reach a terrifying new level."

Furthermore, as material goods become more abundant and people have more disposable income, they will inevitably seek to improve their quality of life, and vehicles will become a common sight in every household.

Correspondingly, cars need gasoline to run on the road, and its price will certainly rise rapidly.

Furthermore, with OPEC's production restrictions becoming increasingly stringent and its enforcement becoming more stringent, it's easy to imagine that a significant rise in oil prices is highly probable. In contrast, electricity prices will decrease. As new energy technologies mature, convenient, fast, green, and low-carbon "green electricity" will almost certainly become an important supplement for our vast country.

"I never expect that fossil fuels will be phased out; however, diversifying risks is an inevitable choice."

Jin Shang explained a lot, and Lao Huang listened for a long time, occasionally asking a question or two.

The atmosphere of their conversation was fairly pleasant.

As noon approached, Huang Zhengkuo and Jin Shangcai's long talk was drawing to a close.

"From your words, I seem to see the arrival of a magnificent era. This is the dramatic change brought about by the development of electronic information technology. The essence and foundation have not changed, but the manifestation is completely different. The same tools will have completely different power depending on who uses them. You can imagine which fools will be elected in the future under the so-called fairness of one person, one vote in Europe and America. Only fools would resonate with other fools and agree with their views! There is too much room for manipulation here. Will it really happen?"

Kim Sang shrugged naturally and said:
"The joke about His Majesty the Emperor using a golden hoe to till the land will never be outdated. With the arrival of the information age, the information cocoons of ordinary people are not disappearing, but rather becoming increasingly tight."

Huang Zhengkuo nodded with a sigh and said:

"In the past, poor information flow led to isolation; in the future, there will be too much useless, false, and misleading information. Compared to the ability to obtain information, the average person's vision is not broad enough, and their ability to distinguish between true and false information and to filter useful information is even worse. With a little manipulation, anyone can control the direction of public opinion."

The golden age of communication studies has arrived!
Meeting Huang Zhengkuo's probing gaze, Jin Shang calmly spoke, as if addressing his great-grandfather before him, or perhaps someone who didn't exist in the void:
"A scholar must be resolute and persevering, for his burden is heavy and his journey is long."

Jin Shang didn't say the following sentences, but Huang Zhengkuo could understand them.

Our ideals and mission will continue until death!
"Alas! Your grandfather said something similar back then, but unfortunately... he didn't live long. Fate played a few cruel jokes on him. I hope you will be luckier."

“Old man, I am blessed by the Mandate of Heaven.”

"That's right! What makes a scholar-official a scholar-official is not his birth, but his constant sense of responsibility for the world. That saying no longer applies today, but the spirit must be passed on. It's unrealistic to expect the masses to find their own way. We still need a group of people with ideals, abilities, and ambitions to change the world!"

After a pause, Old Huang indicated that he had talked too much today and was a bit tired, so it was about time to wrap things up. "I'll keep an eye on the two things you mentioned and try my best to get them done for you. Also, there's a batch of land and real estate in the capital area that's being sold; if you're interested, I'll put in a good word. By the way, what do you plan to use for payment?"

"How many?"

"Around 16 billion!"

"Foreign exchange, long-term government bonds, and securities are not enough for me to pledge a batch of shares."

"Okay, I'll have someone send you the asset package details later. Hurry up and decide what to build; the money supply is about to ease, and financing will be easier."

"it is good!"

Upon hearing this, Jin Shang was overjoyed and immediately asked:

"Why don't you introduce some shares to those uncles and elders? I have quite a few high-quality assets."

"Forget it! Let them eat, drink, and have fun, live out their lives well, raise their children and grandchildren, and just don't cause any trouble."

The old man was easygoing, so Jin Shang naturally wouldn't cause any trouble. Since Huang Zhengkuo didn't have any intention of having the Jin family father and son strengthen their ties with old relatives, that was for the best.

That saves you trouble!
……

Offering to stay for a meal is just a polite gesture; Jin Shang's relationship with the Huang family isn't that close, and his fiancée, Li Xuan, is even more distant.

It's the Lantern Festival, so we should spend it with our families.

After picking up his fiancée and bringing her home, it was dinnertime when he unexpectedly saw his cousin Zhang Yunying, whom he hadn't seen for a while.

"Why aren't you home with your girlfriend?"

"I had a meeting with people from the culture and tourism sector..."

"About what?"

"It'll be a rally, a mobilization meeting, a debriefing meeting, and the like. The cultural and tourism activities during the Spring Festival will be over in a few days, and there will probably be an awards ceremony. I'll come over after that. I reckon you should be back around that time, so just wait a bit!"

"Is the Mama Ranch theme park very popular?"

"It was incredibly popular..."

Zhang Yunying was quite excited when this was mentioned.
"Not only are there many tourists from the Gyeonggi region, but also many from other places who come to visit. Most of them are families with children, but there are also couples, young couples and housewives who come to see it. The sales of agricultural products are secondary; the sales of catering, souvenirs, hotels and travel are also very good. The surrounding area has excellent driving effect. The new energy pumped storage wind, solar and thermal integrated project, which was originally progressing a bit slowly, is now on the right track."

"When there are results, everyone benefits, and things naturally become easier!"

In this era, many fields are untapped markets. As long as you find the right direction, have the capability, and invest boldly, you're unlikely to lose money.

With all industries thriving, national strength rising steadily, and the economy developing at an extremely rapid pace, doing business honestly, without getting carried away, and without resorting to crooked means, making money will be as easy as drinking water.

It's not the same as the gradual narrowing of the path to advancement twenty years later.

National destiny, fate, human effort, or even culture—these are all factors at play.

"The main reason is that it has high added value and a relatively long industrial chain, which makes more money than selling grain and agricultural products."

"Large investments come with large risks."

Jin Shang took the warm water Li Xuan handed him, gave a glass to Zhang Yunying, and said with a smile,

"With your achievements, you are no longer an unknown figure in the capital region. You are qualified as a young talent. With a few more years of experience, you will be able to take charge on your own."

Compared to his cousin Mei Wenhui, Zhang Yunying was no less talented, but he lacked the insight and confidence that came from receiving elite education from a young age. Fortunately, these qualities could be made up for later.

“I had someone assess it, and they said that the area could be developed into a comprehensive industrial park, or even a large-scale integrated base, which could serve as the foundation for my business.”

"The roots must be deep. If it is truly established, it can serve as a legacy to be passed down through generations, from which future generations will benefit immeasurably."

For the newly rich, the internet is the best field to make money in the future, but they should not blindly follow the trend. It is not too late to consider crossing over into other industries after stabilizing their core business.

"By the way, Ashang, the bus routes over there are still a bit congested. Relying on tour buses and temporary buses isn't a long-term solution. If it weren't for the batch of hybrid buses you provided, we really wouldn't be able to cope."

"Increasing bus frequency... it's definitely not going to be able to handle such long point-to-point routes in a short time..."

After thinking for a moment, Kim Sang suggested,

"I'll add a featured event to your offline lifestyle section, and distribute discount coupons or something. Don't rush to make money; let's build the brand first!"

"it is good!"

"As for vehicles, I'll allocate another hundred minibuses to you, but that's the most I can offer; production capacity can't keep up..."

"The same shuttle buses used in the Women's World Cup, Asian Games Village, and Olympic Village? They're even better than those, the quality is definitely top-notch, don't worry."

It's easy to understand if you think about it: commercial vehicles with fixed routes and specific purposes are really well-suited for electrification or hybridization, especially diesel-hybrid vehicles, as their performance can be matched to the operating conditions.

The road ahead for the passenger vehicle sector to make a name for itself in the new energy vehicle market is long and arduous!

(End of this chapter)