Hydrogen versus coal: Implications of the hydrogen energy engineering advance for the coal industry

Abstract

The influence exerted by advancement of the hydrogen energy engineering on the coal industry in Russia and in the world is assessed. Percentage of export supplies at the coal companies in Russia has been continuously growing in the recent decade and exceeds 50 % thus far. As a result, Russia is world’s third exporter of coal, and Russian coal companies have gained a wider distribution area. On the other hand, in connection with ratification of the Paris Agreement on climate, many countries importing coal, including Russian coal, are reducing coal consumption, which can result in the loss of expected profit from investment in the Russian coal sector due to coal production decline. According to the development programs of the world powers, the reduction in coal consumption will be compensated by the advance in hydrogen energy engineering. While slackening coal export, Russia can become a hydrogen supplier and can ship hydrogen via available gas-supply mains.