The largest country in the world also has one of the greatest reserves of natural gas on the planet. Russia spans Europe and Asia with a landmass of 17,098,242 square kilometers (6,601,668 square miles). With this much area, Russia has a lot of space to dig natural gas wells and produce energy. The country is about to make those wells more profitable by using them to produce hydrogen as well.

Hydrogen is a valuable form of renewable energy, and Russia just came up with a new way to create it from natural gas

After the Paris Agreement made headlines in 2016, many of the world’s biggest companies and governments announced efforts to transition to sustainable energy. Hydrogen is going to be one of the key aspects of this transition. When burned, hydrogen is a very powerful fuel. Its only byproduct is water vapor. Russia wants to get in on the burgeoning hydrogen market, but it is taking an innovative approach.

In the past, oil and gas companies have used methane and biogas to produce hydrogen. Traditionally, these companies transport methane to a facility and use steam to extract the hydrogen molecules. Russia wants to avoid the costs and time it takes to transport natural gas. Instead, the country plans to create hydrogen inside natural gas wells by igniting natural gas on fire underground. Taking this approach could save Russian energy companies millions of dollars, and it may be more environmentally friendly too.

Russia wants to inject its natural gas wells with oxygen to ignite underground fuel and capture hydrogen

Russia’s more direct approach to making hydrogen from natural gas cuts out some of the key steps of the traditional process. The new technique involves injecting oxygen, a catalyst, and water vapor into the ground where natural gas exists then igniting the mixture underground. Hydrogen and carbon monoxide will be released from the explosion, and a membrane is supposed to allow hydrogen to pass through into collection containers. Theoretically, the membrane will catch the carbon and keep it underground.

Russian researchers are excited about this new process because they see it as a way to reduce carbon emissions while maximizing potential hydrogen production. If Russia can implement this process on a large scale, it could eventually be one of the major hydrogen exporters in the world. The country is already one of the biggest exporters of natural gas, which is why it is so invested in using natural gas wells for hydrogen production.

This innovative approach to making hydrogen at natural gas sites could revolutionize the renewable energy industry

No one else has attempted to use this direct hydrogen production method that Russia is moving forward with. If it’s successful, Russia’s method could revolutionize how private and public fuel companies produce hydrogen. The current processes release CO2 into the atmosphere, which isn’t good for the planet. Green hydrogen production is expensive and difficult, which is why few companies are invested in it. Russia believes that capturing the carbon underground can make hydrogen production both cheap and environmentally friendly.

The renewable energy sector is still less developed than the fossil fuel industry. Natural gas is not a renewable resource, but Russia hopes to use natural gas to support the transition to a greener future. Lowering carbon emissions is beneficial for the planet, even in the short term, so Russia may be on the right track.

Environmental scientists are unsure if creating more carbon underground is the right way to go. There are many potential hazards and environmental risks related to Russia’s new hydrogen production technique. However, it seems that Russia has weighed the pros and cons and is moving forward with its commitment to supporting renewable energy.