Evaluation of regional and temporal dynamics in CCUS-hydrogen development policy pathways: A data-driven framework

China, as both a major energy consumer and the largest carbon emitter globally, views carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) hydrogen production as a crucial and innovative technology for achieving its dual carbon goals of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality. The development of such technologies requires strong policy guidance, making the quantification of policy pathways essential for understanding their effectiveness. This study employs a data-driven framewor, integrating LDA topic modeling and the PMC-TE index, to analyze the regional and temporal dynamics of CCUS-hydrogen development policies. The research identifies 16 optimal policy topics, highlighting gaps in policy design and implementation. The analysis uncovers significant fragmentation in policy pathways, with supply-side policies receiving disproportionate attention, while demand-side and environmental policies remain under-supported. Regional disparities are evident, with wealthier provinces showing higher policy engagement compared to underdeveloped regions. The study also reveals that policy evolution has been largely reactive, emphasizing the need for a more proactive and consistent long-term strategy. These findings provide valuable insights for creating more balanced, integrated, and regionally tailored policy approaches to effectively drive CCUS-hydrogen development in China.