Russia’s Sakhalin Island could target tapping geothermal

Geothermal landscape and volcanic caldera, Kuril Islands, Sakhalin Oblast, Russia (source: picturenice.com)

Geothermal energy could play a vital role in the plans to develop green hydrogen production facilities in the Eastern Sakhalin Island in Russia. These plans were announced by Sakhalin Governor Valery Limarenko during the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok.

Sakhalin has been identified as one of the areas in Russia with the potential for geothermal development. This is consistent with trend of key geothermal resources in Russia (such as Kamchatka and Kuris Islands) being located in the Far East. A more detailed discussion of geothermal development in Russia can be found in this paper by Svalova and Povarov that was submitted to the recent WGC 2020+1.

In addition to geothermal power and green hydrogen, Sakhalin regional authorities are planning to create an Eastern Hydrogen Cluster with green coal and green LNG production facilities. This will make Sakhalin the first region in Russia to have a carbon-neutrality program.

According to Rosatom Overseas VP Anton Moskvin, green hydrogen production is expected to start by 2024 and exportation by 2025. A hydrogen supply chain had already been organized between Russia and Japan.

Source: RT