Hydrogen energy and regulatory policies: Economic pathways for accelerating China's decarbonization agenda

The transition to hydrogen energy is a critical component of China's decarbonization strategy, necessitating wellstructured regulatory policies and economic frameworks. This paper explores the role of hydrogen energy in reducing carbon emissions and examines the impact of regulatory policies on its adoption and market expansion. Through an agent-based modeling approach, the study assesses how policy incentives, carbon pricing mechanisms, and infrastructure investments influence hydrogen production, distribution, and trade. Additionally, this study evaluates the economic viability of hydrogen energy pathways and their potential to drive sustainable industrial transformation. The findings highlight the pivotal role of government regulations, market-driven innovations, and international trade policies in shaping China's hydrogen economy. Moreover, the study underscores how variations in taxation, subsidies, and trade policies can significantly affect hydrogen deployment and its competitiveness against conventional fossil fuels. Ultimately, this research provides insights into policy frameworks that can accelerate China's clean energy transition and support its long-term carbon neutrality goals.