On October 13, Russian Deputy PM, Alexander Novak and Gazprom´s Head of Departmen Oleg Aksyutin signed an Agreement of Intent aimed at advancing the hi-tech area of activity «Development of hydrogen energy & decarbonization of industry and transport on the basis of natural gas» in Russia.
The agreement aims to accelerate the advancement of natural gas-based technologies in the area of hydrogen energy, as well as to create pilot projects.
Gazprom will draw up a roadmap and submit it for approval to the Government.
Hydrogen is one of the most promising energy sources of the future, and a potential alternative to fossil fuels - it is environmentally friendly, and has high energy intensity per kilo, emitting approximately 4 times more energy than gasoline, when burned.
Russia faces the challenge of creating and rapidly developing the new industry and has a number of advantages for the development of hydrogen energy:
- Large reserves of gas and coal and significant potential for its nuclear power stations, wind farms and solar power stations for the production of inexpensive, low-carbon hydrogen
- Underused generating capacity
- Developed oil refining and chemical industries in which steam methane reforming and electrolysis are used
- A developed scientific and technical base
- A favourable geographical position allowing for exports of hydrogen to areas featuring likely centres for its consumption in Europe and in the Asia-Pacific regio