Russia has not abandoned plans to become a major player in the global hydrogen market and maintains plans to export it, says Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak.

“The government sets itself several tasks in the field of hydrogen energy development. One of them is the creation of export-oriented hydrogen production,” he told Russian state agency TASS.

 According to him, Russia could take about 20% of the world market, Kallanish notes.

The comprehensive program for the development of the low-carbon hydrogen energy industry, prepared by the Russian Ministry of Energy in 2022, implied that the export of Russian hydrogen in 2030 could amount to 2.2 million tonnes. The proceeds from its sale could  be $12.7 billion.

In early August 2021, the government of Russia approved the concept for the development of hydrogen energy in the country. 

Its first stage is designed for 3.5 years and involves the creation of specialised clusters and the implementation of pilot projects for the production and export of hydrogen, as well as the use of hydrogen energy carriers in the domestic market. 

In the next stages, from 2035-2050, it is planned to create large export-oriented production facilities and switch to the serial use of hydrogen technologies in various sectors of the economy.

Earlier, Russian state nuclear company Rosatom said it is preparing facilities in Sakhalin for the production of green hydrogen and its export to countries of East Asia.

Rosatom Overseas and the Chinese Energy Company, part of China Energy Engineering Group (CEEC), have signed an MOU for a hydrogen project on the island of Sakhalin.

The memorandum lays the foundation for the development of cooperation on a pilot project for the construction of a hydrogen plant on Sakhalin and designates the main conditions for promising export deliveries of hydrogen from Russia to China.

Rosatom Overseas is planning to start construction of a hydrogen plant in Sakhalin next year. The 100,000 tonnes/year plant is scheduled to enter commercial operations in 2025. This was a project planned with France’s Air Liquide, which earlier decided to ditch the partnership.