Russia

Country: Russia

Document type: National Roadmap

Released: October 2020

Released: August 2021

Summary Points: Roadmap for Development of Hydrogen Energy for 2020-2024

The Roadmap was approved by Government Directive No.2634-r dated 12 October 2020
Press reports indicate that key milestones set out in the Roadmap in support of the development of hydrogen project promotion include:
- State support for the research and testing of hydrogen projects (including for the generation of hydrogen using carbon-free technologies), and the use of hydrogen or hydrogen-methane mixed fuels for power generation and transportation (railway); and
- The development of legislation for hydrogen generation, storing, transport, and use, including relevant technical and safety regulations, and possibly other fiscal incentives

Summary Points: Concept for the Development of Hydrogen Energy in Russia

In August 2021, the government of the Russian Federation approved its Concept for the Development of Hydrogen Energy in Russia (‘Concept’)

Reports indicate the ‘Concept’ foresees the development of hydrogen energy in Russia in three phases.

Phase 1 – 2021-24: foresees establishment of at least three scientific and industrial hydrogen clusters: the North-West, targeted at exporting hydrogen to the EU and reducing the carbon footprint of Russian production for the export market; the East, targeted at exporting hydrogen to Asian countries and developing transport infrastructure; the Arctic, based around low-carbon hydrogen replacing fossil fuel supplies to the region and/or exporting hydrogen and hydrogen-based products. It is expected that in this phase pilot projects will be implemented, including for the export of hydrogen (targeting up to 200,000 tonnes by 2024), and the principles for state support and legal regulations would be developed. Initially, focus is expected to be on deploying technologies to produce hydrogen from fossil fuels with use of carbon capture and storage facilities.

Phase 2 – 2025–35: foresees launch of the first commercial projects (mainly with natural gas and nuclear energy inputs) with a target of hydrogen exports rising to 2 million tonnes by 2035, with plans to pilot the use of hydrogen in the domestic market in various sectors of the economy (including oil, chemical, electricity, metallurgy and transport).
Phase 3 – 2036–50: foresees the large-scale use of hydrogen globally with the cost of producing green hydrogen approaching competitive levels vs fossil fuels, resulting in targeted exports of 15 million tonnes by 2050 (including hydrogen produced from renewable sources). Hydrogen could also be used on a mass scale on the domestic market, especially in transport, power, and industry.

Updated: September 2021