Institutional barriers and regulatory models for the development of the low-carbon hydrogen market: Experiences from Russia, the EAEU, BRICS, and the SCO
Liliya E. USACHEVACorresponding author, Peoples' Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba (RUDN University), Moscow, Russian Federation lnazarova05@mail.ru ORCID id: not available
Subject. Regulatory mechanisms for the development of low?carbon hydrogen in the Russian Federation, the EAEU countries, BRICS, and the SCO. Objectives. To examine the institutional conditions for the formation of a common market for low?carbon energy carriers under the conditions of the global energy transition. Methods. The study employed methods of comparative institutional analysis, content analysis, and elements of comparative legal analysis. The information base comprises federal and regional regulatory acts of the Russian Federation, documents of the EAEU, BRICS, and SCO, national hydrogen development strategies, as well as materials from international organisations – the IEA, IRENA, and IPHE. Results. It was established that Russia has one of the most elaborated strategic frameworks for hydrogen development; however, it lags behind China, India, Brazil, and the UAE in terms of the level of practical implementation, the depth of certification mechanisms, and the scale of economic incentives. At the EAEU level, there are no uniform mandatory standards, a system of mutual recognition of certificates, or a common taxonomy for low?carbon hydrogen. BRICS countries demonstrate higher institutional dynamics and a stronger focus on building domestic industrial demand. Conclusions. Competitiveness in the low?carbon hydrogen market is determined not only by resource potential but, above all, by the maturity of the institutional environment. For Russia, a priority direction is to shift from an export?oriented model to the development of a domestic consumption market, as well as to enhance coordination with the EAEU and BRICS in the areas of certification, standards, and sustainable financing.
Keywords: hydrogen energy, low-carbon hydrogen, development models, strategies, regulatory framework
References:
Boretti A., Pollet B.G. Hydrogen economy: Paving the path to a sustainable, low-carbon future. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2024, vol. 93, pp. 307–319. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2024.10.350 EDN: PTTELF
Vechkinzova E., Steblyakova L.P., Roslyakova N., Omarova B. Prospects for the development of hydrogen energy: Overview of global trends and the Russian market state. Energies, 2022, vol. 15, iss. 22, 8503. DOI: 10.3390/en15228503 EDN: VPDRQO
Potashnikov V., Golub A., Brody M., Lugovoy O. Decarbonizing Russia: Leapfrogging from fossil fuel to hydrogen. Energies, 2022, vol. 15, iss. 3, 683. DOI: 10.3390/en15030683 EDN: FHAXDD
Nach M., Ncwadi R. BRICS economic integration: Prospects and challenges. South African Journal of International Affairs, 2024, vol. 31, iss. 2, pp. 151–166. DOI: 10.1080/10220461.2024.2380676
Gusakov N.P., Andronova I.V., Ganeeva M.V., Dyuzheva N.V. Common industrial policy as a factor of the development of integration processes in the EAEU. International Journal of Economic Policy in Emerging Economies, 2019, vol. 12, iss. 4, pp. 318–336. DOI: 10.1504/IJEPEE.2019.104633 EDN: HJODWA
Ratner S., Sinelnikova A., Khalatyan N. et al. Russia's carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) policy in the context of hydrogen energy development: A critical review. Unconventional Resources, 2026, vol. 12, 100381. DOI: 10.1016/j.uncres.2026.100381 EDN: KTLDMK
Kennedy S., Sgouridis S. Rigorous classification and carbon accounting principles for low and Zero Carbon Cities. Energy Policy, 2011, vol. 39, iss. 9, pp. 5259–5268. DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2011.05.038
Ishkov A.G., Zhdaneev O.V., Romanov K.V. et al. Methodological approaches to carbon footprint assessment and certification of low carbon hydrogen. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2024, vol. 96, pp. 147–159. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2024.11.181 EDN: QUISAS
Melega A. Bibliometric analysis of scientific production regarding the harmonization of accounting in BRICS emerging economies. European Journal of Accounting, Finance & Business, 2022, vol. 10, iss. 1, pp. 11–20. DOI: 10.4316/ejafb.2022.1012 EDN: EFBKUX
Korneev K.A. Hydrogen Energy in Russia: Status, Possible Effects, and Competitive Analysis Based on the Arctic Region Peculiarities. 2025 International Ural Conference on Electrical Power Engineering (UralCon), IEEE, 2025, pp. 397–401. DOI: 10.1109/UralCon67204.2025.11206669
Matjushok V.M., Sinelnikova A.V., Matyushok S.B., Galvez D.P.C. Carbon capture and storage in hydrogen production: World experience and growth of export opportunities of the Russian hydrogen sector. International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, 2024, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 507–516. DOI: 10.32479/ijeep.15205 EDN: LWRXAF
Youngok K., Eunkyung Y., Hyunik S. Russia's policy transition to a hydrogen economy and the implications of South Korea-Russia Cooperation. Energies, 2022, vol. 15, iss. 1. DOI: 10.3390/en15010127 EDN: TLAMPD
Garanina O.L. Perspectives of common EAEU oil and gas markets. In: Piskulova N.A. (eds) The Economic Dimension of Eurasian Integration. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham, 2021, pp. 107–123. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-59886-0_5
Hajimineh R., Sabri P., Rad E.R. The expansion of BRICS and its impact on the use of renewable energy sources: A case study of hydrogen energy. Future Energy, 2026, vol. 5, iss. 1, pp. 10–19. DOI: 10.55670/fpll.fuen.5.1.2 EDN: BIPRUQ
Matveev V.A. [Russian-Chinese cooperation in economy, trade, investment, energy and transport of the SCO: Modern trends]. Kitai v mirovoi i regional'noi politike. Istoriya i sovremennost', 2014, vol. 19, no. 19, pp. 270–280. (In Russ.) EDN: TBSQDH
