Russian Federation
Involvement
Russia has developed and used hydrogen technologies in practice for many years, starting from the time of its first space program. Research and development (R&D) activities carried out at the end of the 20th century resulted in a number of accomplishments. Among these was the development of an experimental liquid-hydrogen-fueled airplane laboratory, TU-155, which was tested in 1986 and 1987. Another achievement was the development of air and space hydrogen-fueled engines, including an unparalleled engine, RD-0120, with a forward thrust of 200 tf in each booster of “Buran-Energy” complex. Also, an experimental hypersonic ramjet engine (SCRAMJET) 58L was successfully fly-tested with a hypersonic flying laboratory with a Flight Mach number from 3 to 7. During the 1980s, a fleet of demonstration taxi-cars fueled by a mixture of gasoline and hydrogen were successfully run in Kharkov. Additional accomplishments included the development of hydrogen forklifts; systems for hydrogen production, storage, and transportation; 250-kW alkaline-fuel-cell (AFC)-based power generation units; and many other R&D projects. The results of these R&D activities are presented in an eight-volume collection of scientific papers, entitled “Nuclear and Hydrogen Power and Technologies,” as well as in a number of monographs, published in the Russian language during the 1980s and 1990s.
In the 1990s, the hydrogen R&D program was considerably curtailed because of the political situation in Russia. However, at the beginning of this century, the Russian Ministry of Science and Education and the Federal Agency for Science and Innovation (FASI) re-initiated an R&D program in the field of hydrogen technologies. This program provides funding for R&D projects related to hydrogen production for the power sector and transport. Today, the Russian hydrogen program funded by FASI comprises more than 40 projects. Additionally, Russia is one of the founding members of the International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy.