UDC 339.9
In the context of an accelerating global energy transition, adapting existing gas transportation infrastructure to low-carbon energy transportation becomes a key challenge. This study aims to assess the technical and macroeconomic implications of integrating low-carbon hydrogen into the Russian gas transportation system (GTS). The methodological framework includes a comparative analysis of the national strategies of Russia, Germany and Japan, scenario demand calculations for hydrogen-methane mixtures, and an assessment of investment needs for modernization of gas distribution and compressor stations. The obtained results show that at hydrogen concentration up to 15-20 vol.% the existing main pipelines of Russia retain operational reliability, requiring mainly replacement of seals, reconfiguration of gas analyzers and local modernization of metering equipment. Aggregate investments in the renewal of critical infrastructure nodes are estimated at ≈ 400 billion rubles, which is commensurate with the costs of European programs for the creation of hydrogen highways. The introduction of hydrogen mixtures can reduce domestic consumption of natural gas by 3-5% by 2030 and diversify the export basket by supplying H2 and its derivatives. The comparative analysis shows that Germany is focused on rapid development of a domestic hydrogen pipeline network, while Japan focuses on import-dependent pilot projects. Russia occupies an intermediate position, having a large-scale GTS and competitive generation, but lacking domestic electrolyzers. The practical relevance of the work lies in the identification of threshold technical parameters for blending and in the quantification of the macroeconomic effects needed to develop a coordinated strategy for the low-carbon transformation of the Russian energy sector. It also assessed the prospects for hydrogen supply to the European market, taking into account the current geopolitical dynamics of Russia-EU relations. The results can serve as a basis for adjusting tax and tariff incentives for future hydrogen projects, as well as being used in the investment strategies of energy companies.
hydrogen, natural gas, Russian gas transmission system, macroeconomic effects, energy transition, hydrogen exports, decarbonization, European hydrogen market, inter-fuel competition
1. Berezkin M., Sinyugin O. Razvitie vodorodnoy energetiki na primere Yaponii [Elektronnyy resurs] // Energeticheskaya politika. — 2023. — 23 maya. — URL: https://energypolicy.ru/razvitie-vodorodnoj-energetikina-primere-yaponii/regiony/2023/13/23/ (data obrascheniya: 27.05.2025).
2. Veselov F., Solyanik A. Ekonomika proizvodstva vodoroda s uchetom eksporta i rossiyskogo rynka [Elektronnyy resurs] // Energeticheskaya politika. – 2022. – 4 sent. – URL: https://energypolicy.ru/ekonomika-proizvodstva-vodoroda-s-uchetom-eksporta-i-rossijskogo-rynka/energoperehod/2022/09/04/ (data obrascheniya: 26.05.2025).
3. Institut problem estestvennyh monopoliy (IPEM). Vodorod: formirovanie rynka i perspektivy Rossii [Elektronnyy resurs]. — Moskva: IPEM, 2022. — URL: https://decarbon.ru/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Rynok-vodoroda_Doklad-IPEM_aprel'-2022.pdf (data obrascheniya: 27.05.2025).
4. Kak brendu povysit' tochnost' rekomendaciy pokupatelyam [Elektronnyy resurs] // RBK Marketing. — URL: https://marketing.rbc.ru/articles/13954/ (data obrascheniya: 27.05.2025).
5. Karasevich V. Perspektivy razvitiya vodorodnoy promyshlennosti Rossii [Elektronnyy resurs] // Neftegazovaya vertikal'. — 2024. — 16 sent. — URL: https://ngv.ru/articles/perspektivy-razvitiya-vodorodnoy-promyshlennosti-rossii/ (data obrascheniya: 27.05.2025).
6. Pravitel'stvo Rossiyskoy Federacii. Koncepciya razvitiya vodorodnoy energetiki v Rossiyskoy Federacii [Elektronnyy resurs] // Oficial'nyy sayt Pravitel'stva RF. — 2021. — 5 avg. — URL: http://static.government.ru/media/files/5JFns1CDAKqYKzZ0mnRADAw2NqcVsexl.pdf (data obrascheniya: 27.05.2025).
7. Proizvodstvennaya deyatel'nost' PAO «Gazprom» [Elektronnyy resurs] // Oficial'nyy sayt PAO «Gazprom». — URL: https://www.gazprom.ru/about/production/ (data obrascheniya: 27.05.2025).
8. Rossiyskie uchenye sozdali ustanovku dlya polucheniya sverhchistogo vodoroda [Elektronnyy resurs] // NANGS. — 2025. — 25 apr. — URL: https://nangs.org/news/renewables/hydrogen/rossijskie-uchenye-sozdali-ustanovku-dlya-polucheniya-sverkhchistogo-vodoroda (data obrascheniya: 27.05.2025).
9. Sidorovich V. Gazotransportnaya sistema FRG gotovitsya k perekachke vodoroda [Elektronnyy resurs] // RenEn.ru. — 2020. — 4 fevr. — URL: https://renen.ru/germany-gas-transmission-system-prepares-for-hydrogen/ (data obrascheniya: 27.05.2025).
10. Baldwin S., Esposito D., Tallackson H. Assessing the Viability of Hydrogen Proposals: Considerations for State Utility Regulators and Policymakers [Elektronnyyresurs] // Energy Innovation. — 2022. — 28 marta. — URL: https://energyinnovation.org/report/assessing-the-viability-of-hydrogen-proposals-considerations-for-state-utility-regulators-and-policymakers/ (data obrascheniya: 27.05.2025).
11. Collins L. Hydrogen blending will raise consumer costs and risk public health while barely reducing emissions, US think tank [Elektronnyy resurs] // Recharge. — 2022. — 19 aprelya. — URL: https://www.rechargenews.com/energy-transition/hydrogen-blending-will-raise-consumer-costs-and-risk-public-health-while-barely-reducing-emissions-us-think-tank/2-1-1193416 (data obrascheniya: 27.05.2025).
12. Findlay C. Repurposing natural gas infrastructure for hydrogen [Elektronnyy resurs] // Siemens Energy. — 2020. — 11 sent. — URL: https://www.siemens-energy.com/us/en/home/stories/repurposing-natural-gas-infrastructure-for-hydrogen.html (data obrascheniya: 27.05.2025).
13. Fritsche U.R. Renewable Gases – Hydrogen in the Grid: Synthesis Report [Elektronnyy resurs] / IEA Bioenergy Task 41. — Darmstadt, 2022. — URL: https://www.ieabioenergy.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Renewable-Gases-H2-in-the-grid.pdf (data obrascheniya: 27.05.2025).
14. How Germany's hydrogen economy could transform energy use [Elektronnyy resurs] // Reuters. – 2024. – 25 iyulya. – URL: https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/how-germanys-hydrogen-economy-could-transform-energy-use-2024-07-25/ (data obrascheniya: 27.05.2025).
15. Hydrogen Pipelines [Elektronnyy resurs] // U.S. Department of Energy. — URL: https://www.energy.gov/eere/fuelcells/hydrogen-pipelines (data obrascheniya: 27.05.2025).
16. Parkes R., Collins L. REPowerEU: More than a million tonnes of green hydrogen will be used for gas blending in 2030, says Commission [Elektronnyy resurs] // Recharge. — 2022. — 19 maya. — URL: https://www.rechargenews.com/energy-transition/repowereu-more-than-a-million-tonnes-of-green-hydrogen-will-be-used-for-gas-blending-in-2030-says-commission/2-1-1221967 (data obrascheniya: 27.05.2025).
17. Tokyo Gas to start Japan's first pipeline hydrogen supply March 29 [Elektronnyy resurs] // S&P Global Commodity Insights. — 2024. — 28 marta. — URL: https://www.spglobal.com/commodityinsights/en/news-research/latest-news/energy-transition/032824-tokyo-gas-to-start-japans-first-pipeline-hydrogen-supply-march-29 (data obrascheniya: 27.05.2025).
