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FSUOGM COMMENTARY FSUOGM

Russia drafts five-year

hydrogen plan

Russia wants a role in what is expected to be a hydrogen revolution in Europe

RUSSIA THE Russian Energy Ministry has drafted a five- Russian companies already produce hydro-
year plan for developing hydrogen energy, RBC gen for industrial uses. But this is all the so-called
WHAT: reported on July 22, weeks after Russia’s biggest grey variety, produced from fossil fuels and seen
Russia's energy ministry energy customer, the EU, unveiled a strategy as dirtier than many conventional energy fuels.
has drafted a five-year for expanding the fuel’s use over the coming The EU is likely to reject any grey hydrogen
roadmap for developing decades. imports from Russia, as its strategy heavily pri-
hydrogen energy. The European Commission wants hydrogen oritises the use of green hydrogen, derived from
to play a much greater role in the bloc’s energy renewables. However, the Commission makes
WHY: mix, providing a means of storing clean energy room for some fossil fuel-based hydrogen as a
Russia wants to export and helping to decarbonise some energy-inten- shorter-term solution for reducing emissions,
hydrogen to Europe and sive industries. Under a strategy published on as long as it is abated with carbon capture and
other markets expected July 8, the EU executive has called for up to 10mn storage (CCS) technology.
to increase their use of tonnes per year (tpy) of hydrogen to be produced State companies Gazprom and Rosatom
the fuel. from water by 2030, using 40 GW of electrolyser are expected to take a leading role in Russia’s
capacity powered by renewable sources. hydrogen drive, according to the energy minis-
WHAT NEXT: Russia, as Europe’s biggest oil and gas sup- try’s plan. Gazprom wants to develop so-called
The plan is to finalise plier, is keen to play a role in this hydrogen revo- turquoise hydrogen, generated from gas but
a national hydrogen lution. According to RBC, the ministry has sent using pyrolysis, where gas is passed through
strategy by the end of its draft roadmap hydrogen plan to the govern- molten metal, producing solid carbon as a use-
the year. ment for approval, with the goal of finalising a ful by-product.
strategy by the end of the year. Support measures So far, pyrolysis is only used on a very small
for pilot projects could then be introduced at the scale.
start of 2021. Gazprom also wants to develop and test a

P4 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 30 29•July•2020