Green Energy and Sustainable Development
Hydrogen fuel as a driver for new energy. Challenges and opportunities for Russia and Kazakhstan
Forecasts of the development of the global hydrogen energy and the global hydrogen market today have a high degree of uncertainty and a wide range of estimates due to economic and geopolitical factors. In this regard, the risks and opportunities associated with the hydrogen topic in the energy sector are relevant for both Russia and Kazakhstan.
Why? Firstly, for both the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan, traditional carriers and energy sources (oil, gas, coal) are particularly important for the national economy. Hasty and ill-considered decisions on Energy transit are equally unacceptable for our countries. Nevertheless, and secondly, Russia and Kazakhstan share the global course on low-carbon energy. Thirdly, both our countries have a common educational, scientific, and technological heritage, which allows us to find our way into the New Energy. The use of hydrogen in the energy sector allows us to consider these features.
However, the challenges of the hydrogen agenda are similar for our countries. As noted in the latest edition of the Hydrogen Energy Development Concept in the Russian Federation, "considering the need for hydrogen in the implementation of national programs for the development of hydrogen energy in Europe, the Asia-Pacific region and the United States, additional global demand for hydrogen may amount to 40-170 mln tons per year by 2050, depending on the pace of development of the global low-carbon economy and the speed of development and development of hydrogen technologies." And all this, in turn, will largely depend on the implementation of state support mechanisms. That is why it is essential to exchange experience and views between Russia and Kazakhstan on the strategy of introducing hydrogen in the energy sector.
The real problems of using hydrogen as a motor fuel were discussed in November 2021 in Ufa within the framework of the Russian Energy Forum. The organizer of the discussion "Hydrogen fuel as a driver for new energy", the Association of Innovative Enterprises in the Energy Sector Energoinnovation, has prepared a special section dedicated to hydrogen energy.
The meeting was moderated by the President of the Association of Innovative Enterprises in the Energy Sector Energoinnovation, Mikhail Smirnov. The event was attended by representatives of government, business, scientists from different cities of Russia and Kazakhstan.
"We are now in a unique situation – we are on the verge of the fourth stage of the industrial revolution, the so-called energy transition. Nobody knows what will happen next. But today, it is important to raise the issue of New Energy correctly. About New Energy as a whole, and not just about renewable energy. We call it Energy 4.0. This is a broader concept. And today, it is important to understand the further vector to catch the balance between traditional energy and renewable energy. Of course, hydrogen is one of the priority areas of renewable energy," Mikhail Smirnov said.