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The Current Situation and Development Prospects of the Hydrogen Energetics Abroad and in Russia: Problems and Tasks of the Legal Regulation
 
PIIS231243500022460-4-1
DOI10.18572/2410-4396-2021-1-96-101
Publication type Article
Status Published
Authors
Polina S. Ratushnyak 
Affiliation: Saint Petersburg State University of Economics
Address: Russian Federation, Moscow
Journal nameEnergy law forum
EditionIssue 1
Pages96-101
Abstract

This article is dedicated to the analysis of the current situation and possible prospects of the development of hydrogen energetics in the world, including the Russian Federation. The author reviews in detail the main aims, tasks and areas of the approved specialized state strategies and roadmaps of the countries of the Asia- Pacific region, the countries of the European Union, Canada and Russia that may act as drivers of the development of hydrogen energetics and its future growth in a relatively large market. The article contains proposals regarding the areas of the legal regulation of the use of hydrogen energetics. The following main vectors may be included in terms of statutory regulation for the encouragement of the development of hydrogen energetics in Russia: the boosting of the national demand; the creation of the regulatory framework in the technical regulation sphere; the introduction of amendments and additions to the trade and customs regulation system; the development of a statutory act regulating classification of tradable hydrogen by its origin from the standpoint of the production technology and the used energy sources; the improvement of tax laws in terms of support of the development of hydrogen energetics; financing and investment attraction events; the promotion of international cooperation in the sphere of hydrogen energetics.

Keywordsenergy law, hydrogen energetics, strategic tasks in the sphere of energetics
Received16.01.2021
Publication date01.03.2021
Number of characters19355
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1 The provisions of the Paris Agreement within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change supported by 196 world countries including the Russian Federation determined the regulatory actions aimed at decreasing the content of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere from 2020. [1] The fulfillment of climatic tasks related to the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions, and the use of hydrogen as an energy source are a promising area.
2 The three factors acting as drivers of the global development of the world hydrogen energetics have been singled out in the course of the research:
  • Hydrogen energetics as a means of decarbonization of the world economy;
  • Hydrogen energetics as an economic recovery driver, while the launch of the hydrogen technology market will also facilitate overcoming the negative consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure sustainable development of the world economy;
  • Hydrogen energetics as an energy accumulation means required in view of the extensive use of RES and the increasing share of this energy type in the power balance of countries all over the world.
3 The development of the hydrogen vector draws more and more attention on the international stage, and hydrogen energetics is increasingly supported both on the corporate and state levels. The following countries can be singled out:
  • The Asia-Pacific Region: China and Japan;
  • The European Union: Germany and Norway;
  • The North America: Canada.
4 Many of the above listed countries have been the first to set the aims of decarbonization of the economy branches by transfer to hydrogen energetics and to acknowledge the potential of hydrogen as an energy source. [2]
5 In the beginning of our study, the main hydrogen types pursuant to its production means and its carbon footprint in increasing order should be reviewed:
  • The “green” hydrogen: for the purposes of discussion, carbon neutral, obtained through electrolysis or other means using electrical energy from RES, without any non-renewable energy resources use;
  • The “turquoise” hydrogen: for the purposes of discussion, carbon neutral or having a low carbon footprint, obtained through methane (natural gas) pyrolysis;
  • The “yellow” hydrogen: for the purposes of discussion, carbon neutral or having a low carbon footprint, obtained through electrolysis using electrical energy generated by atomic power stations;
  • The “blue” hydrogen: for the purposes of discussion, carbon neutral or having a low carbon footprint, obtained through steam reformation of methane or another mineral hydrocarbon fuel using the CO2 capture, storage and use technology;
  • The “grey” and “brown” hydrogen: those having a high carbon footprint, obtained through steam reformation of methane or coal gasification products. [3]
6 The “blue” and “green” hydrogen production technology is viewed in the world as the priority one as it ensures the minimum level of direct CO2 emissions in the course of production.
7 Let us start the study with the People’s Republic of China. China is the world’s leader by the volume of hydrogen production. The Chinese share of the total volume of hydrogen produced in the whole world in 2018 accounted for approximately a quarter. [4] As opposed to the majority of other countries where natural gas is the primary raw material for hydrogen production, approximately 70% of hydrogen in China is obtained by gasification. Almost a half of all hydrogen is used in the PRC to produce ammonia, almost 30% is used to produce methanol, and the remaining volume is used in the petrochemical and chemical industries.
8 Today, there is no program document in China aimed at the development of hydrogen energetics. At the same time, much attention is paid to the use of hydrogen as automobile fuel. Thus, in 2015, China adopted a state technological and innovative development program named Made in China 2025, in which one of the priorities is the development of the technology of production of automobile transport using hydrogen fuel. [5] In 2019, the Chinese government resolved to reallocate state subsidies from electric automobile transport to hydrogen transport to stimulate the development of hydrogen application in transport.
9 The regional government is also actively stimulating the development of automobile transport using hydrogen fuel. Thus, programs of subsidizing the manufacture of hydrogen automobile transport and construction of hydrogen fuel filling stations are adopted in 11 regions. In June 2019, the Chinese government called upon the creation of a “hydrogen society”, an “ecosystem” with hydrogen production factories, storage capacities, transport and sale infrastructure, and the conditions for hydrogen use in the transport and energy sectors. The Chinese Hydrogen Alliance has become the state policy proponent. It acts as a link between the state structures responsible for the elaboration of the regulatory framework of hydrogen energetics and stimulation of its development (the Ministry of Science and Technology of the PRC, the Ministry of Commerce of the PRC, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the PRC, etc.) and companies operating in the hydrogen technology market.

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