At the International Hydrogen Energy Conference (IH2CON) in Moscow, Gazprom Hydrogen presented an exploration of natural “white” hydrogen extraction in Eastern Russia. White hydrogen, controlled by geological occurrences, provides unprecedented opportunities for the global hydrogen economy. Having large gas reserves, such as Kovykta and Chayandinskoye, Russia may become a significant force in international energy markets.
White hydrogen: A revolutionary breakthrough in energy extraction
White hydrogen distinguishes itself in the hydrogen panorama by its inexpensive extraction and minimal ecological footprint. In contrast to green hydrogen produced by expensive water electrolysis powered by renewable energy or blue hydrogen obtained through carbon capture, the production of white hydrogen will occur naturally underground.
Recent work at the Kovykta field in Irkutsk has verified the existence of white hydrogen in the site’s complex mixture of hydrocarbons, methane, helium, and nitrogen. Although the concentration is low, approximately 3%, the discovery signal represents a significant advance in unlocking its potential.
The Kovykta field is uniquely suited for this exploration. With 1.8 trillion cubic meters of recoverable gas, 65.7 million tons of gas condensate reserves, and state-of-the-art infrastructure such as membrane-based separation apparatuses, this technology can serve as a model for the industrial-scale occurrence of hydrogen extraction.
If achieved, this process has the potential to enable larger-scale adoption, which is an advantage for both domestic businesses and international export markets. Gazprom’s white hydrogen (like the hydrogen found in these white rocks) entry aligns with its larger carbon reduction targets.
Since 2020, the company has been actively investing in hydrogen technologies and producing 350,000 tons per year alone for its consumption. These actions intend to cut the CO2 footprint of exports to countries such as China, where low-emission energy resources are becoming increasingly popular.
Eastern Siberian fields: Various gas potential revealed
Eastern Siberian fields provide a unique advantage. In contrast to gases from the Western Siberian gas field, the Eastern fields are characterized by a spectrum of components such as propane, butane, and helium. That diversity requires further processing, which Gazprom is working on, for example, through the Amur Gas Processing Plant.
Methane is isolated and exported at this facility via the Power of Siberia pipeline, while other gases are used domestically or sold abroad. Gazprom can modify its activities and incorporate hydrogen recovery to enable, for example, one of the existing cognitive engineering models.
If demand for hydrogen continues to be low, the same gas may be re-injected into reservoirs until marketable opportunities present themselves. Laboratory studies are underway to develop scalable technologies for hydrogen isolation from natural gas, and the potential commercial impact is encouraging.
International hydrogen markets: Prospects and obstacles for Gazprom
Gazprom is experiencing problems with white hydrogen extraction, namely, low concentration and the necessity of innovative technologies for their separation at a reasonable cost. The volatile hydrogen market makes creating medium and long-term projected plans difficult.
Although the deposits are rare, countries like France are already researching white hydrogen as a cheap energy option. However, with its extensive resources, Russia might be considered in Eastern Siberia and Yakutia, where geology favors hydrogen deposits.
The European Union’s emphasis on producing and consuming renewable energy is biased towards green and blue hydrogen. Hence, the European Union relies less on domestic consumption of low-carbon energy such as hydro and nuclear. Therefore, the low-carbon energy consumption by Asian markets will be short.
Nonetheless, hydrogen transport is still expensive, and production is typically needed close to the consumption sites. Even with those challenges, Gazprom’s innovations might make it the front-runner if demand worldwide is stable.
Gazprom’s white hydrogen efforts exemplify a futuristic energy transformation strategy (like this one thousand times more powerful white hydrogen panel). Exploiting the potential of Eastern Siberia’s resources and high technologies can create economic and environmental advantages. Hydrogen can be a cornerstone of Russia’s energy world through innovation and funding.
