Organizational and Economic Aspects of Developing Regional Clusters in the Russian Hydrogen Market

Abstract

This article analyses the transformation of the Russian energy market amid the rise of hydrogen technologies, emphasizing key trends in the diversification of Russia’s fuel and energy sector. It proposes a conceptual framework for the hydrogen market’s development, focusing on regional differences. Using a three-stage systems approach, the study first systematizes global hydrogen market indicators and classifies participants. Next, it assesses hydrogen production methods, concluding that advancing “yellow” and “blue” hydrogen is economically viable due to their low costs ($1.45–$4.70/kg) and favourable technical and environmental traits. This stage also defines the organizational and economic features of Russia’s domestic hydrogen market formation. The third stage comprises a logical and structural analysis of factors influencing market development, including opportunities for hydrogen export to Asian countries. It is shown that although global hydrogen consumption is expected to rise to 528 million tons by 2050, this volume remains small compared to natural gas consumption (2.583 trillion tons), indicating that a full transition from hydrocarbons to hydrogen energy is still premature. The article emphasizes the need to improve methods for assessing the economic efficiency of hydrogen projects and proposes organizational recommendations for creating an eastern hydrogen cluster through international consortia.